If you or someone you know has been to see a chiropractor, you may well have had experience of ‘clicking’.
Ben often performs manual therapy on an individual with back problems. This is known as spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustment. These adjustments are quick movements of the spine which can result in a popping or clicking sound. The sensation of noise can be worrying and off putting but is entirely normal.
Adjustment is applying manipulation to the vertebrae (spinal bones) which aren’t functioning properly, resulting in symptoms of pain and/or restriction. This is known as subluxation and is the misalignment of the joint between two vertebrae. Chiropractic techniques such as adjustment will help to realign the joint and improve its movement.
Joint subluxations can cause pain and restriction and can occur anywhere in the spinal column. They can be the underlying cause of lower back pain or neck stiffness and if left untreated can cause chronic pain and inflammation in the back.
When Ben has identified the presence of a subluxation one of the manual therapies he uses is a chiropractic adjustment. This is a quick and painless thrust, in the right place, to enable correction of the joint position. The realignment of the joint can cause the popping noise.
Joints are surrounded and lubricated by synovial fluid. There can be air and bubble gases that build up within the fluid. A chiropractic adjustment stretches the joint tissue and causes release of the fluid gas, resulting in the popping sound. This release should result in relief of symptoms and an improved range of movement.
Pops and clicks are a normal and expected part of a chiropractic adjustment, but if you have any queries please do not hesitate to ask us at the Back Room Chiropractic Clinic