A chiropractic adjustment, or manipulation as it is sometimes referred to, is the minor movement of vertebrae in the spine. The objective of this movement is to realign vertebrae that have moved out of place for a number of reasons ranging from everyday activities to trauma such as a car accident.
Vertebral joints are like any other joints in your body, moving within a defined limit, as per the muscular action, which is controlled by the impulses received by the spinal cord nerves. However, incorrect posture, injuries, and excessive strain on the joint or associated structures can irritate the joint capsules.
This triggers signals to the muscles that cause the joint to contract, resulting in restricted mobility and unbearable pain. In addition, a muscular contraction can entirely or partially lock the joint. If the muscles tighten up selectively, the bones might appear out of alignment. It is a protective spinal splinting mechanism that can sometimes get worse. The contracting muscles can restrict the blood supply, or one ligament might stretch while the other remains slack.
Also, when a set of joints lock up, the neighboring sets try and compensate with increased movement. This adds to the wear and tear of the neighboring joints as they increase their range and eventually become less stable. The associated problems can often go unnoticed and manifest into more significant chronic issues over time.
When your vertebrae are out of place, it has an all-around impact on the muscular and central nervous systems. Without a proper alignment, the nerves, immune responses, and other body systems do not function at their highest peak. An adjustment, also called chiropractic manipulation, manual manipulation, or spinal manipulation, is often a pressure from the chiropractor utilizing their hands or an instrument to move the vertebrae back into place. Dr. Patel often induces a pain-free split-second stretch to the joints, muscles, and tissue fibers, opening them up as far as they can freely go. And no, it doesn’t trigger joint tissue resistance; it’s just a neurological response unwinding the joint tissues and, as a result restoring your mobility.
You may hear a noise that sounds like you’re cracking your knuckles, referred to as joint cavitation. It is nothing but a release of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen from the joint. However, the “pop” isn’t synonymous with the success of the adjustment. It’s just a rapid stretch and not bursting a bubble. In case the ligaments have physically shortened, the joints would stiffen again but to a lesser extent than before. So, follow-up sessions are crucial to restore the joint’s functioning fully.
Adjustments and manipulations are excellent techniques to keep the body functioning at its highest level. When the body is in alignment, it can respond well and perform as expected. That said, make sure you discuss your options with Dr. Patel, as not everyone would require an adjustment. At times, non-force techniques help restore faulty joints. You shouldn’t feel disappointed or cheated if he suggests your bone isn’t out of place. Look to an expert like Dr. Patel to determine what would work best for you and whether or not you are a good candidate for adjustments.
We offer this chiropractic therapy in Roselle, so if it sounds like something you need request an appointment or call 847-466-5009.