Do Chiropractic Adjustments Hurt?

Chiropractic adjustments, also known as spinal manipulations, are a procedure in which a joint is moved past its usual range of motion in daily life. The purpose of the chiropractic adjustment is to improve your body’s functioning.  This usually results in better mobility, diminished pain and improved wellness.

Adjustments are most commonly made to joints in your back and neck, but can also be performed on other parts of the body, such as the shoulders. You may be treated by a chiropractor in order to correct such conditions as:

• Neck, back, shoulder, arm, hand, chest, leg, or foot pain and stiffness
• Headaches
• Sciatica
• Arthritis
• Trauma, such as whiplash
• Scoliosis
• Sports injuries
• Repetitive strain disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Fibromyalgia

Moving the joint, or manipulating it sounds painful, doesn’t it? However, the joint is not moved beyond the range of motion it is naturally designed to move in the body.

You may feel pressure or mild discomfort especially if you are suffering an acute injury with inflammation or tension around the joint being treated.

However, chiropractic adjustments should not be painful. If you are new to chiropractic, you may have a harder time relaxing during the procedure than more experienced patients which can make it seem uncomfortable at first.

However as you get used to the procedures you should find not only that the discomfort decreases, but that you may feel relief and a sense of well-being after the adjustment is completed.

Often times the chiropractic adjustment is associated with a popping or cracking noise, as the joint is moved. These noises are the result of the release of tiny pockets of gas within the joint during the procedure, and is completely normal. In fact, it’s the same thing that occurs when someone cracks their knuckles.  In some cases, an adjusting instrument may be used which eliminates this sound and is an even more gentle means of performing the procedure.

After the procedure, you may feel some soreness or aching in the muscles or spinal joints similar to the soreness experienced when starting a new workout program. If it occurs, this kind of discomfort usually happens within the first few hours of treatment.

In order to be sure you have as pain-free a treatment as possible, be sure you choose a board-certified chiropractor with good patient references. An experienced, competent practitioner will be able to give you the most effective treatment possible with the least amount of discomfort.