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Chiropractic Spinal
Adjustment:
What Was That Pop? |
What
Happens When the Spine is Adjusted and What Was That
'Pop'?
Rapid stretching at the spinal joint results in significant
therapeutic intervention. The exact nature of the intervention
is what chiropractic researchers are just beginning
to understand. On one level, muscle and ligaments stretch,
blood circulation increases, and nerve fibers fire rapidly
at the moment of the chiropractic adjustment. But the
picture is more complicated. To understand this complexity,
we need to return to the spinal joint and its neuroanatomy;
the anatomy of the nerves and the nervous system. This
includes the stimulation of mechanoreceptors (responds
to mechanical pressure) and the stretching of muscle
receptors called muscle spindles, all of which are stimulated
by the chiropractic adjustment.
During
the adjustment, the low back has undergone quick and
gentle stretching of the spinal joint. The patient may
hear a cracking or popping noise as the joint is opened.
Research has proved that small pockets of air or bubbles
are found in the tissue fluid surrounding a joint capsule.
When the joint tissues are stretched during a chiropractic
adjustment, the pockets of air 'pop' creating a cracking
sound.
When
the patient gets up from the table, she feels more movement
in her lower back. The muscles may still be sore and
tight, but spinal motion is improved. She will return
to the chiropractor for two or three additional sessions
that include muscle therapies and adjusting. Each session
will provide more relief. The chiropractor may suggest
preventive care such as specific exercises and ergonomic
tips on how to correctly bend and lift. Preventive care
of this type helps to maintain spinal motion. A follow-up
visit may be suggested at three-month intervals.
Chiropractic:
Safe and Valuable Conservative Therapy
A simple mechanical problem in the low back, its diagnosis
and treatment with chiropractic care, as well as the
possible implications of that care illustrates chiropractic's
role in treating the spine. Chiropractic research is
just beginning to investigate other implications of
spinal subluxations and adjusting. This research may
give us a plausible explanation for the effects chiropractic
appears to have on a wide range of medical conditions
and disorders, especially those of a functional and/or
non-organic nature.
Chiropractic
is not a cure-all for all back problems. Sometimes chiropractic
adjusting is not indicated or successful. Some back
problems require other treatment interventions including
surgery.
Chiropractic
has proven to be a safe and valuable conservative therapy
in treating mechanical disturbances of the spine, with
possible wider implications for health and wellness.
Part 1: Chiropractic
Care
Part 2: Chiropractic
Diagnosis
Part 3: Understanding
Chiropractic
Part 4: Chiropractic
Spinal Adjustment
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