With a loud crack

Chiropractors have two methods at their disposal: During mobilization, he carefully moves the joint surfaces towards each other until they slide back into their correct position. This is known as the soft technique. During manipulation, he brings the disturbed joint movement back into balance with a jerk. This can make a loud and frightening crack - but it is harmless.

A sensible alternative

The cervical spine is just as often affected, for example in the case of a dislocated neck or whiplash after an accident. This part of the spine is very flexible and therefore particularly sensitive. The chiropractor can also help with knee or wrist complaints. In children, it is often the radial head of the elbow - after a fall or after a violent movement when throwing a ball. Children can no longer open their hand or extend their elbow. However, this can be quickly corrected. Sometimes treatment by a chiropractor is a sensible alternative to injections or medication from an orthopaedist, as the patient's pain is relieved with just a few simple movements, without any side effects.

Cause unknown

Conventional medicine is still unable to explain exactly what happens in the joint when it suddenly locks up. But the fact is that the blockage causes painful tension. The chiropractor feels these tensions, tests the mobility of the vertebrae and joints and finds out how the joint has shifted.

Only by specialists

But chiropractic must be performed by specialists, preferably by a doctor with additional training. In the USA, a chiropractor is on trial: while adjusting her cervical spine, his patient suffered a stroke. This can happen if the arteries are injured by the sudden jerk and a blood clot forms. This is why we warn against sudden movements in the cervical spine. Chiropractic should also not be used for osteoporosis, after a herniated disc or in the case of a tumor.