Chiropractors are often asked what’s the ‘popping’ or ‘cracking’ sound that’s produced with a chiropractic adjustment. The answer is gas bubbles popping within the joint.
A joint is the connection of two bones in the body. The joint is held together by a capsule of soft tissue and within this capsule is fluid. There are small gas bubbles sitting in the joint capsule fluid.
The chiropractic adjustment creates motion at the joint which pops these gas bubbles. The popping of the gas bubbles is just a side effect of the adjustment, it is not itself therapeutic. It is the restoration of movement in the stiff joint that is therapeutic. The adjustment targets the specific joint that is stiff and painful to remove that stiffness and pain. This is why Chiropractic adjustments are superior to self-manipulation (cracking your own neck or back).
So the cracking sound heard with a chiropractic adjustment is just popping bubbles. The real benefit of chiropractic adjustments comes from the removal of stiffness and pain.
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Scott Leabeater - Principal Chiropractor
Most people come in because they're in pain. Some have just hurt themselves, some have seen other practitioners without success, and some have just moved to the area. Either way, they want to understand why it hurts, and they want to fix it.
When new patients come in, we discuss how the pain started and what it's stopping you doing. I examine the injury and anything nearby that might be contributing, then explain what I think is happening in plain English, including how long it should take to settle. Unless you need a scan first, treatment starts that day.
Since opening The Backstory in Caringbah in 2017, I've treated everyone from local office workers to Olympic athletes. The approach is the same for all of them: take the time, find the cause, and give you a plan you can actually stick to.
Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and Master of Chiropractic, Macquarie University · International Sports Chiropractic Certification · SOT · GEMT
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