Why ‘bone cracking’ can be good for you
Although a lot of people still don’t know exactly what chiropractic is, it’s not a new profession. ‘Bone cracking’ has been done for many years. D.D. Palmer founded chiropractic in 1895 in the United States. His son B.J. Palmer developed chiropractic further, but the idea that problems in the spine can cause health issues has existed for thousands of years. For example, Hippocrates already described this idea and was a big proponent of spinal manipulation.
Your body has an enormous ability to self-heal. This self-healing capacity and all other body functions are coordinated by your nervous system. If blockages in your spine (also called subluxations by chiropractors) interfere with the normal flow of signals in your nervous system your body can no longer heal itself 100%. A chiropractor corrects subluxations in your spine, enabling your body to heal better and often resulting in a reduction of all sorts of complaints.
A chiropractor is often called a ‘bone cracker’. This is because during the corrections you can sometimes hear a popping or cracking sound. This sound is caused by the formation of a gas bubble in the joint. What many people don’t know about chiropractic is that it’s a five-year Masters degree. A chiropractor has extensive knowledge of the human body, and the word ‘bone cracker’ therefore doesn’t do justice to what a chiropractor does. This is why we’d rather not use this word.
Anyway, we’ll probably never completely get rid of the name ‘bone cracker’, and of course ‘bone cracking’ sounds a bit scary. To reassure you: treatments are safe, and we don’t really crack bones. There are certain techniques in which chiropractors quickly but gently push on the bones in your spine. Those are the techniques you can get the cracking sound with, and this is where the idea of bone cracking comes from. However, there are also chiropractic techniques that don’t use this high-velocity manoeuvre and that you don’t hear any noises with. This way people who find it scary to ‘be cracked’ can also be treated.
No matter which technique ends up being used, a chiropractor will always make sure that any subluxations will be removed. This allows your nervous system to function optimally again so that your body can heal itself. Because all your body functions depend on a good nerve supply, you will be able to enjoy a better health and quality of life.
Do you want to experience the benefits of chiropractic yourself, and are you looking for a chiropractor in Amsterdam? You can make an appointment here.