Chiropractic Adjustments Explained: What Really Happens to Your Spine

Chiropractic adjustments are one of the most misunderstood treatments in healthcare. There are so many myths and misconceptions floating around about what actually happens when a chiropractor performs spinal manipulation.

If you've ever wondered what creates that distinctive popping sound, whether adjustments are actually safe, or how moving bones in your spine can affect everything from back pain to overall wellness—you're definitely not alone.

At Hansen Chiropractic in Phoenix, Arizona, we believe informed patients are empowered patients. They get better results and feel more confident about their care. For over 15 years, Dr. David Hansen has been helping Phoenix-area residents understand exactly what's happening during Chiropractic treatments and how these precisely applied forces create positive changes throughout your nervous system and musculoskeletal system.

This guide will clear up the confusion around chiropractic adjustments. We'll explain:
- The science behind spinal manipulation
- What happens during a typical adjustment session
- The various techniques chiropractors use
- Common safety concerns (and why most worries are unfounded)
- The wide-ranging benefits of properly aligned spines

Whether you're considering your first adjustment or you've been getting adjusted for years, understanding what's actually happening helps you appreciate why millions of Americans choose this natural, drug-free approach to pain relief.

The Science Behind Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation—the technical term for what most people call a chiropractic adjustment—is when trained practitioners apply controlled force to specific joints in your spine. These joints have become restricted in their movement or shifted from their proper position. Chiropractors call these restrictions and misalignments "subluxations."

What causes subluxations?

Several things:
- Traumatic injuries
- Repetitive stress
- Poor posture
- Muscle imbalances
- Degenerative changes in the spine

When vertebrae lose their normal position or motion, several problems pop up. The joint itself becomes less mobile, creating stiffness and restricted range of motion.

Muscles surrounding the affected area often go into protective spasm, which creates additional pain and pulls the spine further out of alignment. Inflammation develops in the joint capsule and surrounding soft tissues, contributing to discomfort and potentially irritating nearby nerve roots.

Here's the really important part: spinal misalignment can interfere with your nervous system. The spine houses and protects the spinal cord—essentially the central communication highway between your brain and the rest of your body.

Nerve roots branch off from the spinal cord at each vertebral level, passing through small openings to reach every organ, tissue, and cell in your body. When vertebrae shift out of position, these delicate neural structures can become compressed or irritated, potentially affecting the signals traveling between your brain and body.

How Chiropractic Adjustments Help:

- Restore normal joint position and motion
- Break up adhesions and restrictions in the joint capsule
- Relax muscle spasms surrounding the affected area
- Reduce inflammation and irritation in surrounding tissues
- Remove interference from compressed or irritated nerve roots

The immediate effect of a successful adjustment can be pretty dramatic. Patients frequently report instant pain relief, improved range of motion, and a sense of release or lightness in previously restricted areas. But the deeper benefits go far beyond immediate symptom relief. You'll see long-term improvements in joint health, nervous system function, and overall wellness.

What Happens During a Chiropractic Adjustment

Understanding the step-by-step process of a typical chiropractic adjustment can help reduce any anxiety you might feel about the procedure and help you know what to expect during your visit to our Phoenix clinic.

Initial Assessment and Positioning

Before performing any adjustment, your chiropractor conducts a thorough assessment to identify exactly which vertebrae need adjustment and in which direction they need to be moved. This evaluation might include:
- Palpation (feeling the spine with skilled hands to detect misalignments)
- Range of motion testing to identify areas of restriction
- Postural analysis to observe overall spinal alignment
- Sometimes diagnostic imaging like X-rays to visualize bone position

Once problem areas are identified, proper patient positioning becomes crucial for effective adjustment. Depending on which area of the spine requires treatment and which technique will be used, you might lie face down on a specialized chiropractic table, lie on your side with specific positioning, sit upright on the table or in a specialized chair, or occasionally stand for certain adjustment techniques.

The Adjustment Itself

The actual adjustment happens quickly, typically taking just a fraction of a second. Dr. Hansen positions his hands precisely on the target vertebra or joint, often using specific contact points that allow for maximum control and minimal force. Some techniques use the chiropractor's hands directly, while others employ specialized instruments.

With the patient properly positioned and the chiropractor's hands correctly placed, a quick, controlled thrust is applied in a specific direction designed to move the restricted joint through its normal range of motion. The force used is typically much less than people expect—skilled chiropractors use precise leverage and positioning rather than brute strength.

The Characteristic "Pop" or "Crack"

The sound that often accompanies a spinal adjustment is probably the most misunderstood aspect of chiropractic care. Many people worry that the sound represents bones grinding against each other or something breaking in the spine. But the reality is far less concerning.

The technical term for this sound is cavitation. Spinal joints are surrounded by a capsule filled with synovial fluid that lubricates the joint. This fluid contains dissolved gases including nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. When a joint is moved quickly through its range of motion during an adjustment, the pressure inside the joint capsule drops suddenly, causing the dissolved gases to come out of solution and form tiny bubbles.

The popping or cracking sound you hear is simply these gas bubbles forming—similar to opening a carbonated beverage or cracking your knuckles. The sound itself has no therapeutic value. It's merely a byproduct of the pressure changes occurring in the joint. Some very effective adjustments produce no sound at all, while others create noticeable cavitation. The presence or absence of the sound doesn't determine whether the adjustment was successful.

After the initial adjustment, chiropractors often recheck the area to ensure proper movement has been restored and may perform additional adjustments to neighboring segments if needed.

Different Chiropractic Adjustment Techniques

The field of chiropractic encompasses many specific adjustment techniques, each with its own philosophy, method, and applications. While all share the goal of restoring proper spinal alignment and function, the approaches vary significantly.

Diversified Technique

The most commonly used chiropractic method, Diversified Technique involves high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) manual adjustments where the chiropractor uses their hands to deliver quick, precise thrusts to specific vertebrae. This technique is what most people envision when they think of chiropractic care and is highly effective for a wide range of spinal conditions.

Gonstead Technique

The Gonstead method uses extremely specific analysis including X-ray analysis, instrumentation to detect areas of inflammation, and detailed palpation before delivering precise adjustments. This technique is known for its precision and is particularly effective for disc problems and lower back conditions.

Activator Method

For patients who prefer or require gentler approaches, the Activator Method uses a small, spring-loaded instrument to deliver controlled, low-force impulses to specific points on the spine. This technique is completely painless, requires no twisting or popping, and is excellent for elderly patients, children, or those recovering from acute injuries.

Thompson Drop Technique

This method uses specialized tables with sections that drop slightly when the adjustment thrust is delivered, assisting the movement and allowing for effective adjustment with minimal force. The drop mechanism adds momentum to the adjustment, making it particularly gentle yet effective.

Flexion-Distraction

Primarily used for disc injuries, spinal stenosis, and certain types of lower back pain, Flexion-Distraction uses a specialized table that gently stretches and flexes the spine in a rhythmic pumping motion. This non-forceful technique is excellent for conditions where traditional HVLA adjustments might be contraindicated or uncomfortable.

At Hansen Chiropractic, Dr. Hansen is trained in multiple techniques and selects the most appropriate method for each patient based on their specific condition, preferences, and response to treatment.

Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments

The benefits of properly performed spinal adjustments extend far beyond simple back pain relief, though pain reduction is one of the most immediate and noticeable effects.

Immediate Pain Relief

For many common pain conditions, chiropractic adjustments provide rapid, dramatic relief. Studies have consistently shown that spinal manipulation is highly effective for:
- Acute and chronic lower back pain
- Neck pain and cervical spine dysfunction
- Headaches and migraines (especially tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches)
- Mid-back pain and thoracic spine dysfunction

The pain relief mechanism works through multiple pathways: restoring normal joint motion reduces mechanical irritation, releasing muscle spasms eliminates protective guarding, reducing nerve compression alleviates radiating pain, and decreasing inflammation provides additional comfort.

Improved Range of Motion and Flexibility

Restricted spinal joints don't just cause pain—they limit your ability to move freely and comfortably. Regular chiropractic adjustments restore normal joint mechanics, allowing for:
- Improved flexibility in the spine and related areas
- Increased range of motion in the neck, back, and extremities
- Better posture through more balanced spinal alignment
- Enhanced athletic performance through optimized biomechanics

Enhanced Nervous System Function

Because the spine houses and protects the spinal cord and nerve roots, proper spinal alignment has profound implications for overall nervous system health. When subluxations compress or irritate nerves, the resulting interference can affect far more than just pain sensation.

While research continues exploring the full extent of these systemic effects, many patients report improvements in:
- Better digestion and reduced gastrointestinal symptoms
- Improved sleep quality and duration
- Enhanced immune function with fewer colds and infections
- Reduced stress and improved stress resilience
- Better overall energy and vitality

Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

Chiropractic care plays a crucial role in both preventing injuries and facilitating recovery when injuries do occur. Proper spinal alignment improves biomechanics and reduces stress on vulnerable tissues, addresses muscle imbalances that predispose to injury, maintains joint health and prevents degenerative changes, and speeds healing by optimizing nervous system function.

Safety Considerations and Contraindications

One of the most common questions prospective chiropractic patients ask is, "Are adjustments safe?" The overwhelming body of evidence indicates that when performed by licensed, trained professionals, chiropractic adjustments are remarkably safe.

Serious complications from chiropractic adjustments are extremely rare. Large-scale studies have found serious adverse events occur in fewer than 1 in 1 million cervical spine adjustments and fewer than 1 in 100 million lumbar spine adjustments. By comparison, NSAIDs commonly used for the same conditions cause thousands of deaths annually from gastrointestinal bleeding and cardiovascular complications.

Minor side effects from adjustments can occur but are typically mild and short-lived:
- Temporary soreness or stiffness in the adjusted area
- Mild headache
- Fatigue

These effects usually resolve within 24-48 hours and can often be minimized with ice, gentle stretching, and adequate hydration.

Certain conditions require modified approaches or may contraindicate specific adjustment techniques:
- Severe osteoporosis
- Acute fractures or dislocations
- Infections or tumors in the spine
- Severe disc herniation with progressive neurological deficits
- Certain vascular conditions

At Hansen Chiropractic, patient safety is our absolute top priority. Dr. Hansen conducts comprehensive evaluations before beginning treatment, uses the gentlest effective techniques appropriate for each individual, and maintains open communication with other healthcare providers when collaborative care is beneficial.

What to Expect: Your First Adjustment Experience

If you're considering your first chiropractic adjustment, knowing what to expect can help reduce any nervousness. Your first visit will typically begin with a comprehensive consultation and examination where Dr. Hansen discusses your health history, current symptoms, previous treatments, and health goals.

The physical examination includes postural analysis, range of motion testing, palpation of the spine, and potentially X-rays if indicated by your condition. This thorough assessment ensures that chiropractic care is appropriate for your situation.

Your first adjustment itself will be explained thoroughly before it's performed. Dr. Hansen will describe what he's going to do, why he's doing it, what you might feel, and what results you can expect.

After your first adjustment, you might experience immediate relief of symptoms, though some people need several treatments before noticing significant changes. Some temporary soreness is normal and typically resolves quickly. Dr. Hansen will provide specific aftercare instructions about activities, stretches, ice or heat application, and follow-up scheduling.

Most patients find adjustments far less uncomfortable than they anticipated and often wish they'd tried chiropractic care sooner.

Conclusion

Chiropractic adjustments represent a sophisticated, evidence-based therapeutic approach that addresses spinal dysfunction through precise, controlled forces. Understanding what happens during an adjustment helps demystify this powerful treatment and explains why it's so effective for such a wide range of conditions.

Whether you're dealing with acute pain from a recent injury, chronic discomfort that's limited your activities for years, or you're simply interested in optimizing your health, chiropractic care offers a safe, natural, drug-free path to better spinal health and overall wellness.

Ready to experience the benefits of professional chiropractic care? Contact Hansen Chiropractic today to schedule your comprehensive evaluation. Let Dr. David Hansen and our dedicated team show you how proper spinal alignment can transform your health, reduce your pain, and help you live the active, vibrant life you deserve.