Why do I ‘pop’ during an adjustment?
The popping sound frequently heard during a chiropractic adjustment comes from the release of gas found naturally in joints. When a restricted joint is moved some gas may escape and will be replenished in approximately 20 minutes. If a joint pops every time it is moved (more frequently than 20 minutes) the sound may be coming from a taut tendon which may be treated with soft tissue manipulative therapy.
How Does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractors are trained to find changes in movement. Every spinal joint has nerves as well as small muscles that are densely packed with special cells (mechanoreceptors) that relay information about its movement and position to the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain). This makes up approximately 90% of the body’s sensory input to the brain. When a joint stops moving, a cascade of events is initiated. Some of these changes include a buildup of inflammation in the surrounding tissues, and the muscles are no longer able to change length (they can’t move if the joint doesn’t move). As a result, the brain loses the information it needs to maintain appropriate muscle contractions and smooth coordination of body movement.
In most circumstances, joint injuries are due to failure of the soft tissues supporting the structures of a joint. Approximately 80% of stabilization of a joint is performed by muscles and tendons. Ligaments provide a strong elastic barrier at the end of a joint’s range of motion and assist in keeping the joint from moving beyond that range. When joints are under stress the nervous system responds: the brain tells the appropriate nerves to tell the appropriate muscle groups to contract or relax in a sequence that will protect the joint. When muscles fail to protect the joint either due to incorrect input or because the joint is fixated, there is damage to muscles, support ligaments and the joint capsule. Mild inefficiencies in the nerve/muscle response to movement may result in minor damage to the joint structures but at a level that is not measurable and if the body is healthy enough then the surrounding structures are able to compensate. The damage becomes measurable when there is swelling seen or felt, limping/lameness present or a change is seen on x-ray. Only Chiropractors are trained to diagnose aberrant joint mechanics in the subclinical stages and correct them before they cause further damage. For this reason it is important to visit a chiropractor even if you are not currently experiencing any discomfort. Athletes should consider more regular chiropractic treatments because their bodies are undergoing unusual stresses and minor imbalances that can very quickly escalate into serious injuries.
Guidelines for when to use ice/heat
We recommend talking to a physician before self-prescribing the use of heat or ice however there are certain guidelines to be aware of. First, never sleep with an ice or heat pack. Heat and/or ice should not be used for more than 10 minutes at a time. If ice or heat has been recommended for you, follow the protocol of 10 minutes on, 50 minutes off. This allows the body to return to proper temperature before re-applying. In general, a new injury calls for RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). With injuries, one of the biggest factors that increase damage is inflammation. The purpose of ice is to decrease inflammation, however when body temperature is significantly decreased your body thinks it is becoming hypothermic (too cold) and reacts by sending more blood to the area, which means more inflammation and more damage. Ice should be used for the first 3 days after an injury and during any relapses. Heat is great to relax tired, sore or stiff muscles or during a muscle spasm however if some heat is good, more heat is not better. For the first 10 to 15 minutes the heat will act to relax muscles however after that the heat will draw more blood and inflammation into the area causing more pain and stiffness. Putting heat on an area doesn’t just mean with a hot pack. Soaking yourself in a warm bath or hot tub may feel great at the time but the increase in blood flow may increase your pain later so for new injuries avoid the heat completely and old injuries limit yourself to 10 minutes. If you crave the comfort of a full body warm up, choose the shower instead which will give you that soothing heat while keeping you moving at the same time, keeping inflammation from settling around your injury. Be sure to ice new injuries after a hot shower.
