Patients ask me this all the time, so let me clear it up. When I give a chiropractic adjustment, I am not cracking anything. What I am doing is gently moving a joint in your spine to help restore its normal motion and alignment.
The word "crack" makes people picture something breaking. Nothing is breaking. Your vertebrae stay right where they belong. Let me walk you through what is going on, because once you understand it, the whole thing feels a lot less mysterious.
What an Adjustment Involves
A manual adjustment uses a small, specifically directed force to move a single joint. It is controlled and precise, and a skilled chiropractor places it exactly where it is needed.
Plenty of everyday things put stress on your spine over the years: falls, bumps and bruises, sports, repetitive work, long hours at a desk, car accidents, and general wear and tear. Over time that can contribute to stiffness, joint and disc changes, and posture problems. An adjustment is intended to help your spine move better and may help ease some of that musculoskeletal strain.
So What Makes the Popping Sound?
Yes, when your neck is adjusted by hand, you often feel and hear a popping noise. Here is what tends to cause it.
Tight Muscles and Soft Tissue
If you have tight neck muscles with some adhesions in the tissue, those can release as the joint moves, and that release can make a popping sound.
Ligaments
Ligaments connect bone to bone and hold your joints together. During an adjustment the surrounding ligaments stretch slightly, and any adhesions that release can make a popping sound.
Gas in the Joint
There is also fluid inside the joint capsule, and movement of the gases within that fluid can create a pop. It is similar in principle to opening a bottle of pop, and that sound on its own is generally considered normal rather than a sign of damage.
One more thing worth knowing: your ear sits right next to your neck. That is why a neck adjustment can sound louder to you than an adjustment lower down your spine, even when the same gentle motion is used.
And to be clear, what you see in movies is not what chiropractors do. That is Hollywood, not a real adjustment.
What to Expect Your First Time
Before I ever adjust your neck, especially on a first visit, I explain exactly what is going to happen so there are no surprises. You should feel fully informed and prepared.
A manual adjustment is quick and is meant to be comfortable. If you are dealing with acute neck pain, you may notice some tenderness, but I will always talk you through it first.
What About the Stroke Question?
People often ask whether neck adjustments can cause a stroke, and it is a fair question. Every procedure performed on the body carries some level of risk, and that includes neck adjustment. Researchers continue to study how often serious events occur and why. It is a fair thing to ask about, so if you have any concerns about your own situation, bring them up and we will discuss them openly before anything happens. I want you comfortable with your care.
Why Someone Might Have Their Neck Adjusted
There are a few good reasons people look at neck care. Supporting healthy posture can help take strain off the joints and discs in your neck over time. Many patients come in for neck pain and stiffness, neck and shoulder tension, or tension headaches, and an adjustment is intended to help those musculoskeletal issues feel and move better.
If you want to understand what is going on with your own neck, the best step is to come in so I can assess it and explain what I am seeing.
If a Manual Adjustment Is Not for You
Maybe a manual neck adjustment still is not for you, and that is completely fine. Not everything suits everyone.
There are other ways to adjust the neck that do not involve a manual move or a popping sound. These include instrument adjusting (such as an activator), drop-table adjusting where the table assists with the motion, and light-touch and soft-tissue work. In our office we use these gentler techniques for newborns, children, and adults for whom a manual adjustment is not the right fit.
What About Children and Newborns?
Parents are often surprised that children come in at all. Here is how I think about it: many of the spinal complaints I see in adults trace back to bumps, falls, and posture habits that started in childhood. Kids take a lot of tumbles, so some parents choose to have their child's posture and movement looked at.
For little ones we use the gentle, low-force techniques described above, and I always explain what I am doing and why before we begin.
The Bottom Line
Now you know the truth about neck adjustments: what they are, why people have them, and that chiropractors do not crack or break your neck or any other part of your body.
If you have questions about whether chiropractic care is a good fit for you, the best person to ask is a chiropractor who can look at your specific situation. I am always here to answer your questions and happy to help where I can.
Dr. Brad Ivanchuk, Doctor of Chiropractic / Life Chiropractic Centre
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