For most the question is simple curiosity, a desire to learn and understand their body. However for some there is a real fear associated with this phenomenon. Undoubtedly these are the people who have seen the classic action movie move where the muscle bound hero or villain wrenches their adversary's neck to one side instantly killing them. Add a little Hollywood magic and their death is met with a nice audible pop.
Or maybe you are in the Chiropractors office after an injury that also included feeling and or hearing a pop.
With these fears in tow it is understandable why there is some hesitation when sitting as the doctor prepares to administer the adjustment. Fortunately these fears are unfounded and you can relax knowing that a skilled application of force is nothing to worry about.
So what is making it pop/crack? Is something breaking? The phenomenon known as "cavitation" is, to put it simply, a release of gas. You see, the many of the joints throughout your body are enclosed by a structure called a synovial capsule. This capsule is filled with a fluid called synovial fluid....(not rocket science here, right.) This fluid is the substance that brings nutrition to the joint surfaces as they do not have a direct blood supply. The fluid and capsule for all intents and purposes make a closed system. (Hold on it gets scientific here....I will explain after) In a closed system fluids and gases act according to a law called the ideal gas law. This law states that the pressure will respond proportionately to changes in temperature or volume. When an adjustment is administered the doctor is imparting motion to a joint that is out of alignment. This motion puts a stretch on the closed capsule system, thus altering the volume of the system. When this occurs the result is a drop in pressure. This drop in pressure means the forces that were "pushing" the gases dissolved in the synovial fluid decrease and a gas bubble (mainly CO2 or Carbon Dioxide-the substance we breath out) is formed. Because this all happens in a rapid manner (a necessity for a good adjustment as the thrust should be faster than the muscles have time to reflexively contract to ensure a proper set) the resulting gas bubble as is comes together releases the audible pop we hear.
Simply put, the sound is not a bone breaking or crunching. It is not the sound of your spinal cord tearing like in the movies. It is plain and simple gas escaping, and it is nothing to fear. And while it is not the goal of an adjustment (the re-alignment of the misaligned joint is) it is an indicator that the proper degree of movement has taken place in the specific area the doctor had targeted. And chances are you have experienced the same phenomenon with your own knuckles.
Still a little fearful about getting your neck adjusted? Pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger twisting his enemies necks and spelling their doom. Take comfort in the fact that a Doctor of Chiropractic is a highly trained and skilled professional who knows that a good neck adjustment means keeping the spine in a neutral or near neutral position, and this is the biggest difference between an adjustment meant to replace that which is out of place or injured, and a friend or associate who offers to "crack your neck."
For More Info Visit ChiroSC.com
Dr. R. Tyler Johnson, D.C., CCSP
Chiropractic Center
1502 N. El Camino Real
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 436-6440
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