What is an Adjustment?
Hi guys! In this month’s blog I just wanted to touch on a popular question I get asked a lot in practice especially by new patients “what is an adjustment?”…
What is an adjustment and what does it do?
An adjustment, also referred to as spinal/joint manipulation, is the application of a quick specific force in a precise direction, applied specifically to a spinal or peripheral joint that is not moving as it should.
How can adjustments help me?
Specific chiropractic adjustments can help with:
• Increasing joint motion
• Decreasing pain
• Reducing joint stiffness and muscle tension
• May help reduce inflammation
• May provide short term relief for neck related migraines and tension and cervicogenic headaches
• Particularly effective for neck and low back pain when combined with exercise
Well, are adjustments safe?
With any manual therapy there is always some risks involved. With spinal manipulation we will thoroughly assess you to see if it is safe to perform and whether or not you’re a candidate for this type of treatment.
Some common adverse effects you make feel after an adjustment may include:
• Soreness, tightness or stiffness
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Exacerbation/irritation of your pain
Whereas some rare adverse effects you make feel after an adjustment may include:
• Muscle, ligament or joint sprain/strain
• Dizziness/nausea
• Fracture or disc injuries
FAQs we get asked in practice about Adjustments:
Is the cracking sound my bones breaking?
No! The ‘crack’ or ‘popping’ sound that is let out when an adjustment is performed, is simply your joint opening up and letting out gas bubbles from within the joint’s capsule. This is called a ‘cavitation’ or as I like to call it – a joint fart lol.
Can I adjust myself like the chiro does?
Nope. Chiropractors undergo 5 years of university training to learn how and where to adjust, to ensure that it is performed safely and appropriately to the specific joint needing to be adjusted.
I crack my neck, back, fingers etc. everyday… is that bad?
Doing too much of anything can always have its consequences, so it’s no different with cracking your joints. Constant cracking of any joint especially in the spine can cause something called ‘hypermobility’, which simply means your joint is moving too much. Over time this can result in excessive strain to the joint, stiffness in surrounding areas and pain as a result.
Do I have to be adjusted if I don’t want to be? Does my chiropractor always have to adjust me?
No. As chiropractors we also may incorporate other types of treatment besides adjustments, dependent on your complaint/injury. Such as:
• Gentle joint mobilisations
• Spinal or joint traction techniques
• Massage/soft tissue therapy
• Dry needling
• Shockwave therapy
• Taping
So if your in need of an adjustment or just wanting to try out chiropractic for yourself, feel free to book in with one of our amazing chiropractors and experience the instant relief an adjustment may give you today!
Click here or call 0435 819 286 to make an appointment.
