If you’ve never been to the chiropractor yourself, you’ve likely heard about people getting their “backs cracked.” Sounds painful, right? Here’s what to know about adjustments, including whether they’re painful. Spoiler – the answer is no!
Don’t Worry, Adjustments Aren’t Painful
Contrary to popular belief, a chiropractic adjustment isn’t accompanied with bone-cracking drama. While there may be some nervous anticipation for first-time patients, the goal of a chiropractor like Dr. Lynelle McSweeney here in Reno is always to get you of pain quickly – not add to it! In many cases, your adjustment will involve a quick, targeted thrust to a very specific point, but it is usually far more gentle than you might anticipate.
What about that Popping Sound?
An adjustment can make a sound known as cativation. What you’re hearing are gasses released from the joint capsule into space being created within the joint itself. Sometimes, it sounds like a pop or a crack. But if you’ve ever been warned off cracking your knuckles b because it will “wear out” the joint, rest assured that this doesn’t apply to chiropractic care. That’s because these movements are applied as a means of improving joint mobility and decreasing the small dysfunctions that can build over time.
In Fact…
We’ve written before about the benefits of combining massage therapy with chiropractic care. In fact, Dr. McSweeney begins all of her appointments with a G5 massage. This machine-assisted therapy relaxes the muscles in preparation for treatment. Not only is it wonderfully soothing, it’s an important first step for the very best, most productive chiropractic experience.