There’s no shortage of information about chiropractic care online, and not all of it tells the full story. As a doctor in the field, I hear many of the same questions and concerns from patients who have come across conflicting information about chiropractic treatment. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common myths about chiropractic manipulation—and what you should actually know.
1. Chiropractors Can Only Treat Back Pain
Think chiropractors only treat back pain? Think again.
While back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a chiropractor, it’s far from the only issue they address. Chiropractic care may also help with neck pain, headaches, joint pain, and other movement-related problems.
Chiropractic treatment focuses on how your muscles, joints, and nervous system work together to support movement and function. While treatment often involves the spine, chiropractors may also address hip, knee, shoulder, and other joint pain. Depending on your condition, improving joint mobility and movement may help reduce discomfort, improve range of motion, and make everyday activities easier.
2. Chiropractic Adjustments Are Dangerous
It’s understandable why an adjustment might look intimidating. A quick, controlled movement, sometimes accompanied by a loud pop, can sound or feel more dramatic than it is.
Like any healthcare treatment, chiropractic adjustments do carry some risk. However, serious complications are rare, especially when a properly trained and licensed chiropractor performs the treatment. Serious adverse events, including spinal cord injury, are considered extremely rare.
For certain types of back pain, neck pain, and joint pain, chiropractic adjustments can be one non-invasive treatment option. Your chiropractor should always consider your medical history, symptoms, and individual needs before determining whether an adjustment is appropriate.
3. Chiropractic Care Requires a Lifelong Commitment
You may have heard that once you start seeing a chiropractor, you’ll have to keep going forever. That isn’t necessarily the case.
How long you need care depends on several factors, including your condition, the severity of an injury, how long you’ve had the problem, and how your body responds to treatment. Your chiropractor can monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as you improve.
For example, someone with a recent, acute injury may start feeling better within a few visits or several weeks, while a long-standing or chronic condition may take longer. There is no universal treatment schedule that works for everyone.
Some people also choose to see a chiropractor periodically for maintenance or wellness care. Ultimately, how often you visit should depend on your goals, your condition, and how you respond to treatment, and not an arbitrary number of appointments.
4. Chiropractic Care Puts Joints Back Into Alignment
You’ve probably heard someone say that a chiropractor “puts a joint back into place.” That’s a common way of describing an adjustment, but it’s not quite how it works.
A chiropractic adjustment isn’t simply about moving a joint back into a predetermined position or physically putting a bone back where it belongs. Instead, adjustments are intended to influence joint movement and mobility, which may help reduce discomfort and improve function.
Think of it less as “putting something back into place” and more as helping a restricted joint move more normally. Chiropractors may use controlled, targeted techniques to address areas where movement is limited and help you move more comfortably.
5. You Need to Hear “Clicks” for Chiropractic Care to Be Effective
If you don’t hear a pop during an adjustment, does that mean it didn’t work? Not at all.
The clicking or popping sound that sometimes occurs during an adjustment is generally associated with cavitation, which is a rapid change in pressure within a joint that can cause dissolved gases in the joint fluid to form or release a bubble. In other words, you’re not hearing bones breaking or grinding against each other.
Whether an adjustment produces a sound depends on factors such as the technique being used, changes in joint pressure, and your individual anatomy. Some low-force techniques may not produce an audible pop at all.
Most importantly, an audible click isn’t a measure of whether an adjustment was effective. No popping or cracking is required—the sound is simply a possible byproduct of an adjustment, not the goal of treatment.
Making Sense of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment, and understanding what it can—and cannot—do is an important part of making informed decisions about your health.
If you’re wondering whether chiropractic care may be right for you, Dr. Sheps can evaluate your needs, answer your questions, and create a personalized treatment plan based on your condition and goals. As a Los Angeles-based chiropractor, he provides patient-centered care focused on helping you move better and feel your best.
““I have been a patient of Dr. Sheps for years, and his expertise has dramatically enhanced my quality of life. He is an exceptional chiropractor whose deep knowledge, precision, and dedication to his patients set him apart.”
Ready to get started? Schedule your consultation with Dr. Sheps today.