As a chiropractor one of the most common questions we get asked is “what is that cracking noise when I get adjusted?”   Some people can even be concerned, they often wonder if anything is breaking.  

No nothing is getting damaged!

The noise that you hear is called a “cavitation”.  A cavitation happens when the surface area and the volume of the joint is changed.  I like to explain it like this.  When you open up a can of pop, there usually is a “popping” noise.  The reason that happens is the can is under pressure.  The gas inside the can is trying to escape.  When you open it up, the volume is increased, and a noise results as the gas trapped inside the can is released.  So when a subluxated joint is corrected, the volume of the vertebral joint changes, and as a result gas is released in the same way as the can of pop.  

Sometimes when our patients are getting adjusted, they don’t hear or feel any “popping” noises.  This does not mean that you did not get a good adjustment.  It just may mean that the physiology of the joint may be changing, you spine may be getting better, or you simply just did not detect it.  So even though it is common to get noises when you get adjusted, it does not indicate a good or bad adjustment.  

Most importantly, as chiropractors we are trained to detect and correct subluxations.  A subluxation complex has multiple components to it, and it is essential that as doctors we only adjust the specific vertebrae that need to be corrected.  This means that even though some people may “crack” their own joints…we do not recommend it.  It actually can lead to damage if not done by a trained chiropractor.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.  Visit us our website.   If you are seeing a chiropractor, keep your appointments.  If you are looking for one, we would love to meet you.  

Yours in Health, 

Dr. Josh
Dr. Kristina