A common misconception about chiropractic care in Saskatoon is that Chiropractors ONLY perform spinal adjustments and that these adjustments are moving bones back in place.

Chiropractic is a profession that focuses on the treatment and recovery of many neuromusculoskeletal injuries. When used appropriately, a chiropractic adjustment can be a very powerful tool, but I assure you that your bones are aligned just the way they are supposed to be. Although a chiropractic adjustment is typically associated with the spine, these adjustments can also be very beneficial in treating ankle injuries, knee pain, hip pain, and shoulder pain. E3 Chiropractic + Wellness in Saskatoon is trained in many different treatment techniques, including chiropractic adjusting, to assist in the healing of injuries throughout your body.

So what exactly is this adjustment? Why is it used? How do Chiropractors in Saskatoon know when to adjust their patients, and what the heck is that popping sound?

Joint Dysfunction


Part of the physical exam that a Chiropractor in Saskatoon will perform includes joint palpation. This involves your Chiropractor using their hands to determine whether the joints throughout your body are moving properly. A joint that is functioning properly should have a near spring-like feel to it while being pain-free.

If a joint is not moving freely, this is referred to as joint dysfunction. Imagine a small portion of the spring is welded together. The spring will no longer be able to move and function as it normally would.

When you are told you have joint dysfunction, this does NOT mean that the bones of your spine are out of place, or out of alignment. For 99% of people, your bones are exactly where they should be! (I leave one percent of wiggle room for congenital anomalies such as scoliosis)

What is the purpose of a chiropractic adjustment?


For the Chiropractors at E3 Chiropractic + Wellness, the goal of the adjustment is simple; to restore proper motion to an area that is not moving properly.

I said earlier that your bones are NOT out of place. The purpose of an adjustment is NOT to put bones back into place. The adjustment is used in an area of your body that does not have proper joint motion, helping to restore normal function and motion.
How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
Adjustments are performed on joints that are not moving properly. The Chiropractor will typically use their hands to position the joint in the motion that is fixated, or not moving well. Once positioned, the Chiropractor will gently push with a shallow pressure or a thrust. This will help restore the proper range of motion in that joint!

The benefits of a chiropractic adjustment


There are three major benefits of an adjustment, making it a very powerful tool! These are:
Decrease pain
Improve range of motion
Improve proprioception

The science of how each of these three things occurs is fairly complex, and each one will likely have a blog post in the future. Keep your eyes peeled!

What is the popping sound?


Chiropractic adjustments are typically accompanied by a distinct popping sound. For the third time, THIS IS NOT YOUR BONES MOVING BACK INTO PLACE!

There are different types of joints in your body. The most common type of joint in your body is called a synovial joint. These are the joints that you have in your fingers, knee, elbow, back, neck, ankle, shoulder, and elsewhere throughout your body!

Synovial joints are surrounded by a thick joint capsule that contains something called synovial fluid. Synovial fluid contains many of the nutrients that your bones need to stay healthy, and through the movement of those joints, the fluid transfers nutrients to the surrounding bones of the joint.

When your joints stretch, it changes the pressure within the synovial fluid. When the joint is stretched enough, a bubble within the synovial fluid forms, which causes a popping sound. This has a big fancy name to it called, tribonucleation, and has been studied in MRI’s!

You can see in the video below, which is a video MRI of a finger joint being adjusted. As the finger is being pulled, you can see a small, dark circle form within the joint of the finger. This is the bubble formation that would cause the audible pop associated with a chiropractic adjustment.

 

Summary


A chiropractic adjustment is a very powerful tool that is commonly used to help those experiencing back pain or neck pain. When your Saskatoon Chiropractor performs an adjustment, it helps restore proper motion to joints of your body that are not moving well. An adjustment does not put bones back into place!

E3 Chiropractic + Wellness is prepared to help anyone in Saskatoon with low back pain, neck pain. We ensure that each patient receives the right treatment for them, which for some may not include an adjustment. If you are experiencing pain or have any further questions, book an appointment today!

Dr. Kurtis Gryba

Dr. Kurtis Gryba

Chiropractor | Owner

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