Mike Tannenbaum, D.C. of Tannenbaum Chiropractic in Ann Arbor Michigan here with another blog post: “What is the Purpose of a Chiropractic Adjustment?” and “What Is the Sound Often Heard When Getting an Adjustment?”

Two questions I often get my chiropractic practice in Ann Arbor are “What is the purpose of a chiropractic adjustment? “and “What is the sound I hear when getting adjusted?”

Simply put, the purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is twofold:

* Remove nerve interference by moving spinal bones in a very specific direction – into proper alignment, and

* Stimulate sensory function to help the sensory system work properly.

The body’s sensory system, in this case, is responsible for processing/sensing information about what is going on inside the body – for example, about muscle function.

When the sensory system is working properly, it allows the sensors in the sensory system to send correct signals to the brain (versus sending incorrect signals when it is not working properly).

Removing nerve interference and fixing/repairing the sensory system is done with the goal of getting the body to function as close to 100% of its potential – including preventing and getting rid of back pain, neck pain, headaches, etc.

Now, that sound you often hear when getting an adjustment is an innocuous by-product of the adjustment – meaning that it is not either a good thing or a bad thing. The sound is the release of gases from joint capsules. Joint capsules help protect the bony joints in the body, and they contain both liquid and gasses (nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide).

When these capsules are compressed during an adjustment, it is kind of like when popping the lid on a carbonated drink (a can soda, for example) which releases the pressurized gas within the can.

Questions about neck pain, back pain, headaches, chiropractic, or this blog post can be addressed to me at my Ann Arbor chiropractic office at [email protected].

All information contained in this blog post is for general information only and not to be used in place of medical advice.