What Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Feel Like?

Most people are nervous before their first adjustment. They've heard the stories or seen the videos and they're not sure what to expect. Here's the honest version.

The adjustment itself takes seconds. Dr. Muren positions your body, applies a controlled, precise force to a specific spinal segment, and that's it. A lot of patients say they felt their body relax almost immediately after. Some feel a brief sensation of pressure or heat. Some feel nothing at all in the moment and notice the difference when they stand up and move around.

The popping sound that sometimes accompanies an adjustment is not bones cracking. It's a gas bubble releasing from the joint capsule when the joint surfaces separate slightly during the manipulation. It's the same thing that happens when you crack your knuckles. It doesn't always happen and it doesn't need to for the adjustment to be effective.

After your first few adjustments, mild soreness in the treated area is normal and common. It feels similar to the soreness you'd have after a workout. It typically resolves within 24 hours. After that initial adjustment period, most patients look forward to their visits because they've learned how good they feel when they leave.