The Chiropractic Adjustment

The key to chiropractic care is the spinal adjustment. This is the way doctors of chiropractic correct subluxations or spinal misalignments.  Correcting spinal subluxations helps decrease interference on the nervous system and allows the body to function optimally.

The Goal of the Adjustment

The goal of the chiropractic adjustment is to correct the spinal subluxations detected during the examination. To do that, the doctor applies pressure to the bone and "unlocks" it from its improper position. The bone will then be free to align itself correctly.

Many people think that the chiropractor forces a vertebra back into its "proper" place.  The role of the chiropractor is to free up the vertebrae. Then, the body can do its job and put them back in the correct position.

Unfortunately, the muscles connected to subluxated vertebrae get used to their positions and have a tendency to pull the bone back out of place. It may take several adjustments before the adjustment "holds," and the bone settles into its proper alignment.

Adjusting Techniques

If you ask 100 patients to describe their adjustments, you may get 100 different answers! That's because there are many adjusting techniques for the chiropractor to choose from. 

We perform Gentle Chiropractic Adjustments at Midway Chiropractic.  We utilize the following techniques for manipulation:

Diversified, Thompson, Activator, Palmer Package, Drop Table, Pelvic blocking, Gonstead.

 For those of you that do not like the "Cracking" noise, we can perform your adjustment with the Activator instrument or with more gentle joint mobilization.

Will it Hurt?

Because most adjusting techniques emphasize using minimal force and gentle pressure, few patients feel any discomfort during the adjustment. Many, however, will hear popping sounds. But there's no need for concern. There's nothing breaking. The noises you hear are just tiny pockets of gas releasing with a pop, which is completely normal.

With or without noises, your adjustment should be completely pain free. Some patients, particularly if they are tense, involuntarily stiffen and resist the adjustment. At these times, they may feel slight discomfort until they learn to relax.