If you’ve never been to a chiropractor before, the whole thing can feel a little mysterious — or a little intimidating. What are they actually doing? What’s that sound? Is it going to hurt?

Let’s clear it up.

What Is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment — also called spinal manipulation — is a specific, controlled force applied to a joint in the spine or extremities that has lost its normal range of motion or position.

When joints become restricted or misaligned — from stress, injury, poor posture, repetitive movement, or just the accumulated demands of everyday life — the surrounding nerves experience tension and irritation. This is what chiropractors call a vertebral subluxation. And it doesn’t just cause local pain. Because the nervous system runs through and between every vertebra in your spine, subluxations can affect the function of any organ, system, or tissue that those nerves serve.

An adjustment restores normal movement and position to the affected joint, which removes the nerve tension and allows the nervous system to communicate clearly and efficiently again.

What Is That Popping Sound?

The sound that sometimes accompanies an adjustment — the one that makes first-timers’ eyes go wide — is called a cavitation. It is simply the release of gas (mostly nitrogen and carbon dioxide) from the joint capsule as the joint surfaces separate slightly during the adjustment.

It is completely harmless and not an indicator of whether the adjustment was successful. Some adjustments produce the sound. Many don’t. Both are equally effective.

Does It Hurt?

For most patients, no — adjustments feel like a relief. The release of tension in a joint that has been restricted can feel immediately satisfying, similar to finally stretching a muscle that has been tight.

Some patients experience mild soreness after their first few visits, similar to the feeling after a good workout, as the body adapts to new movement patterns. This typically resolves within 24-48 hours and diminishes quickly with subsequent visits.

If at any point during an adjustment you feel uncomfortable, you tell us and we stop. Always. Your comfort and trust are non-negotiable.

Are All Adjustments the Same?

Not even close. Chiropractic technique has evolved significantly, and there are dozens of approaches — from traditional manual adjustments to low-force instrument-based techniques.

At Culture Chiropractic, Dr. Ross and Dr. Stephanie are both proficient in Torque Release Technique (TRT), which uses a small handheld instrument called an Integrator to deliver a precise, reproducible adjustment without any twisting or cracking. TRT is one of the most researched techniques in chiropractic and is particularly well-suited for nervous system-focused care and for patients who prefer a gentler approach.

The technique used for each patient is always chosen based on their individual presentation, preferences, and health history — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

How Many Adjustments Will I Need?

This is genuinely individual. Some patients feel significant improvement after just a few visits. Others with longer-standing issues or complex presentations need more time for the spine and nervous system to stabilize and adapt.

After your first visit and Report of Findings, we give every patient an honest, specific recommendation based on what we actually find — not a scripted care plan designed to maximize visit count. Our goal is always to get you to your health goals as efficiently as possible.

The Bigger Picture

An adjustment is not just about getting rid of back pain. It is about restoring the communication pathways between your brain and your body so every system — digestive, immune, hormonal, neurological — can function the way it was designed to.

That is why people under consistent chiropractic care often notice improvements in sleep, energy, immune function, and stress resilience that seem completely unrelated to why they originally came in. Because they are related — just not in the way most people expect.