Can I Adjust Myself?

One of the questions we most commonly receive from people interested in learning more about our chiropractic services is whether they can attempt to perform their own adjustments, or have someone else do so for them. The answer here is quite simple, and important: no. Doing so can be highly dangerous.

All chiropractic adjustments must be performed by a professional chiropractor in Naples, FL with the proper training and experience to do so. These adjustments require specific types of forces applied in specific directions at a specific location and spinal joint. Not only is it nearly impossible for one to adjust oneself, but it would be extremely unsafe if it were possible, simply because most people would not be capable of applying the force in the correct way, and would not even have the training necessary to know what kind of force was needed for the specific situation.

One should not mistake adjustments with “popping.” There are ways a person might be able to turn, twist or bend their body in a way that creates a “popping” noise not unlike what you might hear during a chiropractic adjustment. However, you should not mistake this for an act that has medical benefits. This type of joint manipulation will likely only serve to make what is already an unstable area of your body even more unstable.

Don’t crack your back!

It’s common for people to enlist the help of their friends to “crack” their backs, thinking this will provide them with some much-needed relief from pain, soreness or stiffness. However, many of the processes used to crack the back are counterproductive.

For example, one common solution is to have a friend stand or walk on the back, which results in too much weight being focused on a small area of the body. This can actually cause new back injuries, or exacerbate existing ones. It can also cause damage to the abdominal and pelvic organs. For these reasons, it’s a method you should completely avoid altogether.

Most of the time, people who attempt to crack their own backs or have friends do it for them simply do not have a thorough enough understanding of the inner workings of their bodies. They don’t realize the chance of injury they’re exposing themselves to. Ultimately, trying to manipulate segments of the spine without the proper training can be extremely dangerous and could potentially cause permanent, serious damage to the body in some circumstances.

Therefore, with all of this in mind, you should leave the spinal adjustments up to a trained chiropractor, who you know has the knowledge, training, experience and certification needed to make the adjustments correctly. Even a trained chiropractor won’t try to do their own adjustments—they know to go to another professional for help if they’re experiencing back pain or spinal issues.

For more information about the services you can receive from a skilled chiropractor in Naples, FL, we encourage you to contact Hiler Chiropractic & Neurology today with any questions you have.