Adjustments are probably what most people think of when they think of a chiropractor. It sounds like the doctor is “cracking your bones” and looks like it hurts before it feels good. What the doctor is actually doing though, is giving the patient’s spine a hand in putting itself back in place, relieving pain and stress for the patient.
The spine is made up of different vertebrae. When one or more of your vertebrae become misaligned, this is called subluxation. This often occurs from acute trauma such as an auto accident, slip and fall, lifting heavy things or a sports injury, but can also be caused by any activity that puts stress on the vertebrae, including sitting at a desk or in a car for long periods of time. The goal of an adjustment is to allow the spine to put itself back in the correct position.
After an examination and diagnosis, Dr. Jarrod Wilner may suggest an adjustment. During the adjustment, Dr. Jarrod Wilner will adjust the position of your spine to allow it to place itself back in the “proper” position and reduce your pain. You may hear popping sounds during the adjustment, but this is common, normal and harmless. What you are hearing is tiny pockets of air and gas popping as they are being released when the vertebrae re-align. Hearing lots of sounds is just that – sounds. It is not an indication of anything being broken or how good an adjustment it is. You may hear nothing at all.
After the adjustment, most patients feel better. The newly aligned spine is functioning better and allowing better nerve messages to be sent from the body to the brain through the spine and blood flow is improved. Some patients experience immediate relief of symptoms like headaches or acute back pain. It is also possible however, to experience some discomfort after an adjustment. Muscles get used to holding the spine in a certain way and are used to holding it in an uncomfortable position. It may take several adjustments before the body is able to hold itself in the best position.
If you would like to know more about adjustments, contact Dr. Jarrod Wilner to schedule a consultation.
