Many patients coming to ACH for the first time have never been adjusted before, or have never seen a chiropractor. The most common questions they have are:
What exactly is an "adjustment"?
Your chiropractor has found joints in your body that do not move freely. This can cause tension and discomfort and accelerate unwanted degeneration (z.B. arthritis). Your therapist will use his or her hands, instruments, or a special table to apply a gentle impulse through the tissue to restore movement to the "restricted" joints. This special table is designed to be used to assist in these safe and effective "adjustments". Joint manipulation improves mobility, relieves pain, and helps maintain healthy joints. Sometimes, it even creates a very satisfying "pop"!
Will it hurt?
Usually not. If the tissue is very inflamed or sensitive, there can be some discomfort associated with setting up the adjustment or during the impulse, but it is generally not extreme pain associated with injury and doesn't last after the procedure is over. Some patients experience muscle soreness after the treatment, which is quite normal as your body finds its new position.
Are there other ways to mobilize the spine that don't involve cracking?
Yes. If cracking isn't your preferred method, or you have another bone-softening disorder like osteoporosis, pregnancy, or cancer, you or your chiropractor may elect to use a softer technique like Flexion-Distraction, Activator, or simply Soft Tissue Manipulation.
What if it doesn't crack?
The cracking and popping sound you hear during your therapy is a normal phenomenon. It occurs as small gas bubbles form in the joint fluid, and when two bones slide past each other those little bubbles rupture and create an audible sound. If you wait 20 minutes or so, you can make that area "pop" again! This is why it's important to know that what we really want from the adjustment is to improve joint mobility (not create sound), even though it often makes noise when a restricted joint is moved.
Is it still safe for me?
For patients who are pregnant, ill, injured, or post-operative, the greatest concern is whether or not it is safe to apply an impulse through the joint without injuring the tissue. Make sure you tell your chiropractor ahead of time if you have any such concerns so that your treatment plan can be modified accordingly.
More questions?
Contact our office anytime for more information. Our friendly and helpful staff is ready to assist you in booking an appointment or connecting you with the right information.
Tel: 089 67 97 1007
Email: info@am-chiropractic.de
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