Spinal adjustments

Available at Lake Forest, San Diego, and Spring Valley

A spinal adjustment is a controlled, gentle movement your chiropractor applies to a joint in the spine to help it move the way it should. Every adjustment at Greenlight follows a full assessment and is matched to your body, your comfort and how you respond.

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What adjustments are for

Adjustments, sometimes called spinal manipulation, are small, precise movements of the vertebrae. The aim is to restore motion to joints that have become restricted, whether from everyday habits like long hours at a desk, from repetitive strain, or from an injury such as a car accident.

When a joint in the spine is not moving well, the muscles around it often tighten, nearby nerves can become irritated, and you may feel pain, stiffness or tingling. Restoring motion to the joint is one way to ease that strain so you can move more comfortably.

Adjustments at Greenlight are gentle and individual. Nothing is done until your chiropractor has taken your history and examined you, and the type and intensity of each adjustment is chosen for you.

What an adjustment feels like

An adjustment is usually a quick, controlled pressure from your chiropractor’s hands or a small instrument, applied to a specific joint. Most people feel little or no discomfort.

You may hear a pop, like cracking your knuckles. That sound is called joint cavitation: it is the release of gas from the fluid inside the joint, and it is not bones moving out of place. Not every adjustment makes a sound, and the sound is not a measure of whether the adjustment worked.

What to expect during your visits

Most adjustments are hands-on. Our chiropractors primarily use manual, diversified adjustments with a gentle approach, and they do not use forceful techniques when they are not needed. The type and intensity of each adjustment is adapted to how you are responding.

On a first visit the adjustment is conservative and based on how much pain you are in that day. At the next visit, once your chiropractor has reviewed your exam findings and any X-rays, care may be stepped up a little, either by adjusting more areas of the spine or by changing technique based on how you responded.

If you are uncomfortable with the sounds of a manual adjustment, or nervous about having your neck adjusted, instrument-based options are available. A small handheld instrument delivers a light, quick impulse to the joint without twisting or popping, and it is often used for children.

How we find the source of the problem

Before any adjustment, your chiropractor wants to understand you. Your first visit starts with a conversation about your daily life: what you do at work and at home, how you sleep and sit, and any past accidents or injuries.

A full physical examination follows. It may include:

  • Orthopedic tests to identify the area involved and narrow down the cause
  • Range of motion checks to see how you move and whether you favor one side
  • A posture assessment
  • Watching how you walk, sit down, stand up, and get on and off the table
  • Palpation, feeling along the spine for areas that are restricted, in spasm or not moving well

For children, palpation and gentle motion checks are the main tools, and X-rays are not used routinely. For adults, X-rays are taken only when they are clinically needed.

Techniques we use

Our chiropractors choose the method that suits your condition, your comfort and your stage of life:

Diversified adjustments
Hands-on adjustments to specific joints of the spine and extremities. This is the most common technique at our offices.
Drop table
A table section drops a short distance as the adjustment is made, which allows a lighter touch. It is often used for the hips and pelvis.
Flexion-distraction
A gentle, rhythmic stretching motion on a specialized table that takes pressure off the lower back. It is often used for people who sit for long periods and for disc-related back pain.
Instrument-assisted adjustments
A small handheld instrument gives a light, precise impulse. It suits people who prefer not to be adjusted by hand and is used most often with children.
Pregnancy positioning
For expecting mothers, positioning changes as pregnancy progresses. You may be adjusted face up for the upper back or on your side for the lower back instead of lying face down.
Gentle care for children
The younger the child, the lighter the force. Children usually respond well and tend to recover quickly.

Patient case studies

Neck pain with arm and wrist symptoms

Patient
A woman whose work involves long hours at a computer.
Symptoms
Neck pain, daily headaches, wrist pain from mouse and keyboard use, and numbness and tingling running down the arm into the hand.
Findings
The nerve was being irritated in two places at once, at the neck and at the wrist, sometimes called a double crush.
Care
Regular spinal and wrist adjustments, workstation changes, stretching and icing at home, followed by strengthening exercises for neck posture in the second phase of care.
Outcome
Within the first month her pain had eased considerably and the numbness and tingling had decreased. By the end of her care plan she reported no pain, headaches, numbness or tingling, and she returned to the activities she enjoys, including pickleball. She now comes in for occasional check-ups.

Whiplash after a rear-end collision

Patient
An adult man injured in a rear-end car accident.
Symptoms
Neck pain he rated eight out of ten, headaches, and numbness and tingling into the fingers.
Findings
Whiplash. An MRI of the neck was ordered to see whether a disc was pressing on a nerve or whether muscle spasm and inflammation were responsible.
Care
Spinal adjustments with soft tissue work throughout the treatment period.
Outcome
After a month of care his neck pain was close to zero and his headaches had resolved. Some tingling in the fingers remained and his care was continuing.

Low back pain and sciatica in an older adult

Patient
An active man in his later years.
Symptoms
Low back pain and pain into the buttock after lifting heavy bags of garden mulch.
Findings
X-rays were taken because the pain was radiating. Joint restrictions were found in the lower back.
Care
Adjustments with stretching and strengthening exercises. When progress stalled after a few weeks, a review of his daily habits found that an unsupportive recliner was straining his lower back every evening. He switched to a supportive chair.
Outcome
With the chair changed, healing moved forward and he made a full recovery.

Neck and back pain from years of desk work

Patient
An adult man who works at a desk.
Symptoms
Neck and back pain, muscle tension and limited range of motion.
Findings
Spinal joint restrictions related to long hours of desk work and poor ergonomics.
Care
Frequent visits at first, gradually spaced out to occasional maintenance visits. Each visit combined gentle traction, vibration massage and diversified adjustments, with home exercises, stretches and scheduled breaks during the workday.
Outcome
His range of motion improved early on, and muscle tension eased over the following weeks. He now finishes the workday without pain.

Individual results vary.

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Your questions,
answered

About spinal adjustments at Greenlight.

What are spinal adjustments?

Spinal adjustments, also called spinal manipulation, are controlled movements applied to a joint of the spine to improve its motion, ease pain and help you move more comfortably.

Are spinal adjustments painful?

Most people feel little or no discomfort. Some feel mild soreness afterward, similar to after exercise, which usually fades within a day or two.

How long does it take to see results?

It varies from person to person and depends on your condition. Some people notice a change after one or two visits; others need more time. Your chiropractor will review your progress with you as you go.

Are spinal adjustments safe?

Adjustments are generally considered safe when performed by a trained, licensed chiropractor, and serious complications are rare. Your chiropractor examines you first and will tell you if another type of care would suit you better.

Which conditions are adjustments used for?

Adjustments are commonly used for back pain, neck pain, headaches related to the neck, sciatica, disc-related pain, muscle tension and stiffness, posture-related strain and joint pain.

Can adjustments help nerve pain?

By easing joint restriction and pressure around a nerve, adjustments may help nerve-related symptoms such as sciatica or pain into the arm.

When should I consider an adjustment?

If pain, stiffness, reduced movement or recurring tension is getting in the way of daily life, an evaluation can help you understand what is going on and whether adjustments are a good fit.

Can I avoid the popping sound?

Yes. Instrument-based adjustments use a light impulse with no twisting or popping. Tell your chiropractor what you prefer.