Chiropractic adjustment - Mayo Clinic
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Chiropractic adjustment
During the adjustment, you may be asked to lie on a specially designed table. By placing his or her hands in precise locations and using controlled movements, your chiropractor works on individual joints to improve mobility and relieve discomfort. Chiropractic adjustment is a procedure in which trained specialists (chiropractors) use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of this procedure, also known as spinal manipulation, is to improve spinal motion and improve your body's physical function. Products & Services
Available Solutions for Pain Relief from Mayo Clinic StoreBook: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th EditionNewsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter - Digital EditionShow more products from Mayo Clinic Why it s done
Low back pain, neck pain and headaches are the most common problems for which people seek chiropractic adjustment. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Risks
Chiropractic adjustment is safe when it's performed by someone trained and licensed to deliver chiropractic care. Serious complications associated with chiropractic adjustment are overall rare, but may include: A herniated disk or a worsening of an existing disk herniation Compression of nerves in the lower spinal column A certain type of stroke after neck manipulation Don't seek chiropractic adjustment if you have: Severe osteoporosis Numbness, tingling, or loss of strength in an arm or leg Cancer in your spine An increased risk of stroke A known bone abnormality in the upper neck How you prepare
No special preparation is required before a chiropractic adjustment. What you can expect
At your initial visit, your chiropractor will ask questions about your health history and perform a physical exam, with particular attention to your spine. Your chiropractor may also recommend other examinations or tests, such as X-rays. During the procedure
During a typical chiropractic adjustment, your chiropractor places you in specific positions to treat affected areas. Often, you're positioned lying facedown on a specially designed, padded chiropractic table. The chiropractor uses his or her hands to apply a controlled, sudden force to a joint, pushing it beyond its usual range of motion. You may hear popping or cracking sounds as your chiropractor moves your joints during the treatment session. After the procedure
Some people experience minor side effects for a few days after chiropractic adjustment. These may include headaches, fatigue or pain in the parts of the body that were treated. Results
Chiropractic adjustment can be effective in treating low back pain, although much of the research done shows only a modest benefit - similar to the results of more-conventional treatments. Some studies suggest that spinal manipulation may also be effective for headaches and other spine-related conditions, such as neck pain. Not everyone responds to chiropractic adjustments. A lot depends on your particular situation. If your symptoms don't begin to improve after several weeks of treatments, chiropractic adjustment might not be the best option for you. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Doctors & Departments Sept. 30, 2022 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references Spinal manipulation: What you need to know. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/spinal-manipulation-what-you-need-to-know. Accessed Sept. 28, 2020. AskMayoExpert. Chiropractic treatment. Mayo Clinic; 2019. Shekelle P, et al. Spinal manipulation in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Sept. 28, 2020. Bauer BA. Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation. In: Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative Medicine. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017. Hinkeldey N, et al. Spinal manipulation and select manual therapies: Current perspectives. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2020; doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2020.07.007. What to expect on your first visit. American Chiropractic Association. https://handsdownbetter.org/about-chiropractic/what-to-expect-on-your-first-visit. Accessed Oct. 6, 2020. Related
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