Why do joints "pop," AND do chiropractors HAVE to "pop" you?

We’ve all heard joints crack. Whether it’s your own knuckles or your airline seat neighbor crunching his neck, that pop is unmistakable. Some of us practically live for it. Others shudder at the sound & do our best to avoid it.

So what the heck IS that sound, exactly, and what does it mean?

This article sums it up with all the fancy medical jargon you could ask for. But I like normal-people words, so here’s how it reads in real-world English.

Think of a cold glass of ice water on your countertop. At first, you can move the glass around, no problem. But after a while, there’s a bunch of condensation on & under the glass, so that when you go to pick it up, there’s resistance as it sticks to the counter. You’ve got to give it a little oomph to break that suction so you can pick the glass up, and you may hear or feel a click as the suction releases.

When you feel resistance in your joints, if you pop them, you’re releasing that suction and allowing the joint to move freely again.

Now, how does that relate to your chiropractic adjustments?

By now, you probably know that when I adjust patients, I often DON’T “crack them.” Did the adjustment still work? You betcha!

The goal of chiropractic adjustments is to reestablish normal joint alignment & normal joint motion. Basically, the glass of ice water isn’t in the right spot on the counter. Through an adjustment, I’m moving the glass to a more optimal location. Maybe out of the sunbeam so the ice doesn’t melt too fast. Sometimes, that glass has built up condensation & suctioned to the counter, so it clicks when it gets picked up & the suction gets released. Sometimes the glass hasn’t built up that condensation yet and hasn’t suctioned to the counter yet. I’m still moving it out of the sunbeam so you can enjoy that cold water longer. It’s just not going to click when I move it.

I’m here to help you enjoy the quality of life you desire & deserve – noise or no – one long, slow sip at a time!

Curious if gentle chiropractic care - typically with NO popping - is the right fit for you?

Let's find out in your No Charge Phone Consultation!

Reach out to me direct by calling (636) 751-3150

OR text me direct at (636) 751-3150

I'm looking forward to assisting you on your mission of being your very best!

Chat soon,

~Dr. Vicky