Chiropractic Care

Adjustments can be an incredibly powerful tool for pain relief and improved mobility. For the right person, they can help a painful or stiff area feel better and move more comfortably.

That said, adjustments aren't the right option for everyone, and that's okay. Some people respond really well to them, while others may benefit more from exercise, mobility work, soft tissue treatment, or another approach. On average, spinal manipulation can improve pain and function, but the results vary from person to person. People often benefit from the supportive care they receive with chiropractic care as it’s a chance to let someone else do some work and help you feel better.

That's why we don't believe everyone who walks through the door needs an adjustment. We'll look at what's going on, talk through your goals and preferences, and choose the tools that make the most sense for you.

For the research nerds: A large systematic review and meta-analysis in the BMJ looked at 47 randomized trials and more than 9,000 people with chronic low back pain. It found that spinal manipulation produced similar outcomes to other recommended treatments, with some improvement in function. [Read the research]

Probably not as much as you might think.

You may have heard that a chiropractor needs to find the exact vertebra that is "out" and adjust it in a very specific direction. Research doesn't really support that idea. Studies comparing adjustments targeted to a specific spinal level with adjustments performed more generally haven't found meaningful differences in pain or function.

That doesn't mean we just pick a spot and hope for the best. Your exam still helps us decide where treatment makes sense, what technique is appropriate, and most importantly, whether an adjustment is a good option for you at all.

It simply means your spine probably isn't a puzzle where one tiny piece has shifted out of place and needs to be perfectly pushed back in. Adjustments seem to work through a combination of mechanical and nervous system effects, and those effects don't appear to require millimeter-level precision.

For the research nerds: A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis in JOSPT (Sørensen et al.) found moderate-certainty evidence that targeting spinal manipulative therapy to a specific vertebral level did not improve pain or disability outcomes compared with a nontargeted approach in nonspecific low back pain. Read here. This aligns with broader evidence that spinal manipulative therapy produces outcomes comparable to other recommended treatments for chronic low back pain, as shown in a 2019 BMJ systematic review and meta-analysis. Read here.

Yes. Chiropractic adjustments are generally considered safe when they are used appropriately.

The most common effects are mild and temporary, such as soreness, stiffness, or a temporary increase in discomfort. As with any healthcare treatment, there are potential risks, which is why appropriate screening and individualized care matter.

Safety also means knowing when not to adjust. Your health history, symptoms, exam, individual risk factors, and comfort level all matter. If an adjustment isn't a good fit for you, we don't do one. Simple as that.

For the research nerds: A 2026 Cochrane systematic review evaluated 76 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 12,000 adults with chronic low back pain. Among the studies that reported adverse events, effects associated with spinal manipulative therapy were limited to muscle soreness, stiffness, and temporary increases in pain. No serious complications related to treatment were reported in the included trials. Of course, further research on safety is worthwhile, even though truly rare complications are difficult to study reliably. Read here.

This is the most common serious concern we hear about, and we take it very seriously.

The current evidence suggests the risk is extremely low, and importantly, cervical spinal manipulation has not been shown to be a significant risk factor for cervical artery dissection. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis examining risk factors for this type of stroke found that while minor trauma is sometimes associated with dissection, cervical manipulation specifically was not identified as a significant independent risk factor. Read the research.

What complicates this picture is that people developing a spontaneous cervical artery dissection often experience neck pain or headache as their very first symptom. They may seek care (whether from a chiropractor, primary care doctor, or emergency room) before anyone knows a dissection is occurring. This creates what researchers call "protopathic bias," where the treatment appears associated with the event because it was sought for early symptoms of a condition that was already developing.

Before performing any neck manipulation, we review your history and symptoms to screen for any signs that would suggest we should avoid adjustments in that region.

If you have specific concerns about neck adjustments, please bring them up. We can discuss whether adjustments are appropriate for your situation, or we can use other treatment approaches entirely.

We use several different techniques because people (and their spines) respond differently to different approaches.

Manual diversified is what most people picture: a specific, quick push with the hands. It creates that popping sound and can feel very effective for areas that are really stuck.

Flexion-distraction is a table-based technique. The table moves while the chiropractor applies a gentle stretch. There's no popping, and it's particularly helpful for disc-related issues or when someone prefers a lighter touch.

Drop table uses a table with sections that drop slightly when pressure is applied. It allows for an adjustment with less force and no twisting, which some people find more comfortable.

Activator is a small handheld instrument that delivers a quick, low-force impulse. No twisting, no popping. Just a gentle tap. Great for people who are nervous about manual adjustments, have osteoporosis, or simply prefer it.

We choose the technique based on what you're comfortable with, your body type, what's going on clinically, and what has worked or not worked for you in the past. You never have to receive a technique you're uncomfortable with, and we can usually achieve similar goals with different approaches.

The sound you sometimes hear during an adjustment is called a cavitation. It occurs when the pressure inside a joint changes rapidly and a small gas bubble forms and collapses in the synovial fluid. It is not a bone “going back into place.”

More importantly, the pop does not tell us whether the adjustment worked.

A well-designed study of patients with low-back pain found that people improved in pain, mobility, and disability whether or not an audible pop occurred. Hearing a pop did not increase the odds of a better outcome.

We still enjoy a good pop. It’s satisfying for many patients and clinicians. But it is not the goal, and an adjustment can be completely successful without making any noise at all.

We chase outcomes, not noises.