Some Facts About "Cracks"

How many visits will it take to help me and why do I have to go so frequently?

It is important to remember that spinal adjustments, as well as your health are ongoing processes. The length of your care plan and number of times you will need to be seen are based on the specific nature and history of your condition. Chiropractors treat mostly acute injuries and chronic structural problems. It takes some time for soft tissues to heal after injury. Many structural problems have been present in the body for a long time. In this time, your body has adapted around these spinal misalignments and structural problems with improper joint motion and muscle imbalance. Since it has taken years to get to this state, it may take weeks or possibly months for the body to return to a properly aligned and balanced state. 

Once you go to a chiropractor, do you have to continue going for the rest of your life?

After the initial care plan has been completed and a patient is back on their way to proper nervous system function and health, they often continue with maintenance care. They will come into the office once a week, every 2 weeks or once a month to get adjusted. Most often, those that continue care realize the health benefits of regular chiropractic adjustments and like the way they feel when adjusted regularly.  

I’m scared of the “cracking” and “popping” sound during an adjustment.

You should not be scared of the sounds that are produced during a chiropractic adjustment. The sound is not coming from the bones, but rather from the joint capsules surrounding the vertebrae. The capsules are filled with a lubricant called synovial fluid. When the vertebrae are misaligned, a pressure build-up in the capsule is created and when the adjustment is performed, the joint is re-aligned and the pressure is released. A good analogy of this pressure release is similar to when you crack your knuckles. Not all patients and/or adjustments “crack” or “pop”, but this does not mean that the adjustment was not effective or correct. Increased motion, decreased muscle spasm and relief of discomfort are indicative of an effective and correct chiropractic adjustment.

Do chiropractors prescribe medication?

No, chiropractors are not allowed to prescribe medication. Instead, chiropractors believe that the body has the ability to heal itself. By correcting and removing subluxations, the nervous system is allowed free-flowing communication with the rest of the body and the self-healing can take place. 

Is chiropractic care good for young children and older-aged adults?

Chiropractic care can be utilized from the moment of birth well into old age. It is especially important for infants to be under care to deal with any subluxations that are a result of trauma during the birthing process. It is important to have children adjusted regularly to ensure a healthy nervous system for proper growth and development. As we get older, we become more susceptible to illness, disease, and physical ailments. By continuing chiropractic care into the “golden years”, the nervous system is better equipped to cope with the effects of advancing age. 

How will I feel after my adjustment?

The reactions after an adjustment vary from person to person. Most patients experience instant relief of pain and muscle spasm along with a clearer sense of well-being. Sometimes patients feel aching or soreness in muscles or joints following an adjustment, which is a natural response of the body. Most of these reactions will subside within several days and you will begin to feel beneficial effects of your adjustment. You should not feel such reactions with subsequent adjustments, as your body will begin to adapt to the adjustments and begin the process of correcting the misalignments and restoring nervous system function. 

If you experience any reactions that are unusual or are of concern to you, do not hesitate to call the chiropractor or please inform them at your next visit. 

How much time will each office visit take for an adjustment and what can I expect?

Your first visit will generally take between 30-40 minutes, depending upon the extent of your presenting condition.

Subsequent visits will take 10-15 minutes and they will be similar to the first visit, without the consultation and orthopedic tests. Besides the adjustment of your specific subluxations, there will be some muscle stretching and trigger point therapy to help relieve any spasm and/or discomfort.