What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
Chiropractic-Wiki Topic: What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
Misalignment or malfunctions can occur between the spinal joints called subluxations. This physical alteration can cause interference to the transmission of nerve impulses from the brain to the rest of the body and affect health.
Chiropractors locate malfunctions in the spine and correct them through manual manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to the joints with the hands.
Many chiropractic techniques exist to accomplish reduction of subluxations. The majority of mainstream techniques involve high velocity, low depth, force applied to a joint while it is in a certain physiologic position. The chiropractor finds the direction the joint is stuck in, brings the joint to it’s normal position then gives a quick directed force to unlock the joint (cavitation).
Often a release of carbon dioxide gas from the joint occurs causing a popping or cracking noise. The sound of an adjustment is NOT from bones rubbing together or anything breaking or coming apart. The adjustment is not intended to move the joint beyond it’s normal physiological range of motion, therefore the joint is under very little stress during the procedure and side-effects or injuries are very low compared to other treatments.
In most instances, chiropractic adjustments are not painful and many patients enjoy the sensation and the relief they feel afterward.
Chiropractic adjustments result in:
- More mobility
- Less muscle spasm
- Increased nerve system activity
- Increased immune response
- Increased performance and energy
- A sense of well being and relaxation
- Improved balance and coordination
While chiropractic adjustments are well known for their ability to reduce headaches, neck and back pain, there is more to it.
The same subluxations (malfunctions in spinal motion) that cause your neck pain, may be silently causing problems with respiration, energy production, digestion, your immune system, etc. So often patients receiving treatments for painful ailments often report positive side effects such as improved energy, better digestion and sleep, a sense of well-being, etc.
Safety of Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments and chiropractic treatment in general is very safe. Like any health care procedure there some risks. Approximately 30% of patients may experience transient increased pain of the treated area that usually resolves in a matter of hours to days. This occurs due to the movement of strained or inflamed tissues that are part of the issue you present with.
Serious bodily harm is extremely rare and not an inherent risk of chiropractic treatment. That there is NO SCIENCE behind the absurd allegations that Chiropractic adjustments can cause Strokes or causes any higher incidence of stroke than a typical visit to a primary care physician (PCP). Studies have shown that any observed association between Vertebral Arterial Dissection (VAD) and stroke with chiropractic adjustments is likely attributed to patients with an undiagnosed VAD who seek care for neck pain and headache before the onset of a stroke. ANY movements of the neck while driving, having their hair washed in a salon or an exam by a primary care medical physician would likely cause the poor outcome.
Reference:
https://wikichiro.org/en/index.php/CMT_%26_Risk_of_Stroke
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