What Is the Popping Sound During a Chiropractic Adjustment?

As a chiropractor I get this question every day: what exactly is happening when we hear the popping sound during an adjustment? Before we get into the nitty gritty, it is important to know the popping or cracking sounds you hear are completely normal and safe. It is not the result of bones grinding against each other, joint dislocation, joint relocation, or the cause of arthritis.

So what causes the sound?

It is helpful to first understand what a chiropractic adjustment is. It is the application of a force to a joint to cause it to stretch and gap. Most joints in our body are made up of a sealed, fluid-filled capsule surrounding the ends of two bones. When the joint is quickly moved during a chiropractic adjustment, the fluid inside the joint capsule is stretched and the pressure drops, forming gas bubbles. These bubbles then quickly collapse as the joint moves back toward its initial position. It is the collapse of these bubbles that creates the well-known popping or cracking sound.

As a result of the adjustment, there are several physical effects that take place in the joint, including increased range of motion, increased size of the joint space, and a period of time where another “crack” or “pop” cannot be produced. Decreased pain, decreased stiffness, and relaxation of muscle tone around the joint also occur.

If you have any more questions about the chiropractic adjustment and how it can help you, let us know! We are more than happy to answer your questions and talk about whether chiropractic care is right for you.