What’s That Popping Sound During a Chiropractic Adjustment?

Ever wondered what that satisfying pop is when you get adjusted? Spoiler alert: it’s not your bones cracking!

The sound you hear is called joint cavitation—a completely normal and harmless process. When a joint is adjusted with just the right speed and force, the surfaces of the joint momentarily separate. This creates a drop in pressure, causing gases (like oxygen and nitrogen) naturally present in the joint fluid to form a bubble. That quick release? That’s the “pop” we all know and love.

Let’s clear up a few common myths:

That popping sound is not:

• Tendons snapping over a joint

• Bones being pushed back into place

• Scar tissue or adhesions breaking apart

And here’s a fun fact: the sound itself doesn’t determine the success of the adjustment. Whether it pops or not, what matters is how your body responds afterward. But hey—we admit it, we loooove that sound too.

So next time you hear that familiar crack, remember: it’s just a tiny gas bubble forming as your joint moves—and a sign your body is on its way to better movement and alignment.