Why Can't I Adjust Myself?

One of the most common questions I hear from patients is if they can adjust themselves, or if they really need to see a chiropractor. My answer is always the same, not even chiropractors can adjust themselves. It seems that most people only view an adjustment as having their neck and back "cracked" and do not realize the real purpose the adjustment serves.

First, the adjustment is more than just "popping your back." It is a specific maneuver that is used to either put a single vertebrae back into position, or to restore motion to a joint that is not moving properly. Chiropractors should perform detailed exams before ever performing an adjustment to make sure that they know which joint needs to be adjusted. Whenever I see people "popping" their own neck, they usually place their hand on their chin, then rotate their head to the side. They don't know what they're getting to pop and what isn't. This is why chiropractors use a specific contact on the joint they are trying to move, so that they can be sure they are adjusting the right segment.

Another important thing to remember is that a vertebrae can become misaligned in a number of different directions. A vertebrae can move in up to 16 different directions, and it is important to know which direction it has moved in before it is adjusted. Chiropractors are trained to determine which direction the vertebrae has moved, and how to put it back in the proper position. People who "crack" their necks don't know where the vertebrae has moved, thus could cause the bone to shift even further out of position.

Another thing that I commonly see in people who feel like they can adjust their selves is that they constantly have to "pop" their own neck or back. The reason for this is that when they "crack" their neck, their body releases endorphins, which are hormones that produce the feeling of well being. In other words, they make you feel good. Unfortunately, this endorphin high typically only lasts about 15 minutes, at which point the person usually feels the need to pop their neck again. So, they're not doing anything to improve their pain level, they are just masking it with endorphins. Adjustments, on the other hand, actually train the vertebrae to stay in the proper position, fixing the problem that is causing your pain, so that you don't rely on endorphins to make you feel better.

In conclusion, you can not adjust yourself, not even can chiropractors can. You may be able to pop or crack you own back, but you are just covering up the symptoms and not doing anything to actually fix the problem. You may even be making the problem worse.