What is an Adjustment?
The chiropractic adjustment is often referred to as a “spinal manipulation” in research. The adjustment is a precise manipulation in which the trained chiropractor exerts specific pressure on one or more spinal joints or other malfunctioning articulations (joints).The specific joints that require adjustments are determined during the examination that include orthopedic and neurological testing and palpation (examination by touch). Adjustments are performed to correct joint malalignments to relieve surrounding muscle tension, reduce nerve irritation and restore normal nerve flow to the involved tissues.
The sound is coming from a release of nitrous gas when there is a separation of the joint surfaces, but not from the bones themselves. The sound arises from a vacuum phenomena similar to putting a plunger firmly on a flat surface and then pulling it from the surface. The “cracking” noise is similar to the noise from cracking of knuckles and incidentally, not all patients produce a popping or crack noise when an adjustment is performed, even though the adjustment or spinal manipulation was proper and effective.
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