Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "What's That 'POP' I Hear During an Adjustment?"

This question comes up very often when patients are treated in my office. Many ask, "Doc, what's that pop/crack coming from my back?" A few patients that have not visited a Chiropractor have asked, "Is it my bones breaking?"

The simple answer is; the pop is coming from the space between your bones or what is commonly known as the joint. The corresponding picture will make it a lot more clear. When one bone 'connects' to another, you get a joint. But what you may not be aware of is the joint is not empty space. In fact, the joint is actually surrounded by connective tissue. Namely; ligaments, tendons and a membrane called a Synovial membrane may surround the joint, forming collectively a 'joint capsule'. As mentioned before, the space between bones is not empty. It is actually filled with a fluid called; Synovial Fluid. Synovial fluid is very thick and acts to help lubricate movement between the bones. Just think of it like grease making the hinge of a door move without catching or squeeking.

When we take a closer look inside the synovial fluid, we will discover that there is gas suspended in the fluid. When you hear a "pop" during a Chiropractic adjustment, what is happening is that your joints are being stretched. This stretching of the joint momentarily makes the space in the joint bigger. Along with this, the stretching helps to decrease the pressure within the joint. If pressure drops enough, it forces the gases in the synovial fluid to leave the fluid producing a 'pop' as it does. (A simpler analogy would be taking a can of any soda. When you first open the can and pull the tab back, what do you hear? That's right, you will probably hear a "hissing" sound due to you releasing the pressure inside the can by opening the top) A similar phenomenon is happening in the joint, but what you'll hear is a pop.

Specifically it is known that when you stretch a joint that is stiff and relieve the pressure, you activate a part of your nervous system called the Golgi tendon organs. The stimulation will actually register in your brain as; relief, less pain, more flexibility, lightness etc. That's exactly what many patients feel after a Chiropractic adjustment and why they get relief.

If you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, please contact me here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC>