Why Does My Body ‘POP’ at the Chiropractor?

During an adjustment, you may hear a loud popping sound, or cavitation.  For some people this is a terrifying sound. But for those who’ve experience it, it’s can be a wonderful release.

Here’s a little sciencey (is that a word?) stuff that explains it:

Spinal joints are called “synovial” because they produce synovial fluid. Synovial fluid lubricates the joint and helps keep it in good health.

The byproducts produced in the formation of synovial fluid are oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide (CO2). During an adjustment, the spinal joints are separated very slightly, causing a drop in pressure in the synovial fluid between joints, the release of a gas bubble, and that signature “POP” sound.

Despite a common misconception, this sound has nothing to do with the bones, which are not affected during a chiropractic adjustment.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Popping Sound

For some, thinking about getting a spinal adjustment is stressful, and you may have questions about what is happening to your body when you feel a quick movement and hear that ‘pop’.

However, I’d urge you not to let anxiety about the process hold you back from getting an adjustment, and feeling immediate relief. The pop usually feels very nice, and long overdue. It’s a nice release. And it’s natural. It’s not hurting your bones, and won’t cause them to grow funny, despite some of the stuff you find online.

We Focus on Joints

Every time a chiropractor gives you an adjustment, we begin by finding subluxations in your spine, or spinal joints that become stuck and lose their full range of motion.

Stuck joints are responsible for many types of pain and discomfort. A stuck joint can cause stiffness, inability to turn one’s head or stand up straight, and a feeling of being ‘locked up.’ Subluxations can even cause you to feel pain, lose function, and experience increased inflammation.

Subluxations are also bad for your nervous system. This delicate and precise system can be thrown out of sync when subluxations irritate the nerve tissue in and around the spine. Regular chiropractic adjustments can find and correct these potentially painful and damaging subluxations before they become a problem. 

Chiropractic Adjustments

Once the chiropractor has found a subluxation, he or she will correct it with a chiropractic adjustment. There are many different techniques that can be used in an adjustment. Here at Kennedy Chiropractic Center, we use a hands-on approach to spinal care based on adjustments that aid in the proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure. We use specific hands-on force in a precise direction applied to a joint that is locked up or not moving properly.

A chiropractic adjustment is a highly controlled technique and rarely causes discomfort. While every patient is different, many patients feel immediate relief after an adjustment, and most experience a reduction or total alleviation of their pain.

Plus..

Your spine is responsible for working every part of your body, and good spinal health is key to living the lifestyle you want. Be it general back and neck pain, post-accident pain, pregnancy, or any other life event, chiropractic care can help you feel your best. Even if you already feel “pretty good”, we all benefit from regular spinal adjustments.

Fear vs Benefits of Chiropractic Care

While it is perfectly natural to feel nervous or to have questions about your chiropractic care, the benefits of regular adjustments are endless. Getting adjusted will give you the freedom to enjoy your body as it is supposed to function, and feel great while doing it. This safe and natural procedure eliminates interference in the nervous system involving spinal function and overall health. So don’t fret over the pop. You’ve got nothing to fear.

Still have questions? Contact us at Kennedy Chiropractic Center. We have over 25 years of experience taking care of patients and their health needs.