What is a chiropractor actually adjusting?

He is manipulating your wallet and adjusting his bank account.

As I understand it, the muscles around the spine have a lot to do with it. When a vertebrae is out of place the muscles that help hold it in place are also disturbed. Often times this makes it hard to keep the vertebrae back in place when adjusted, thus the multiple adjustments. Of course this was explained to me by my chiropractor years ago. All I know is that when I went to him, it took a couple of weeks before I actually felt relief, although I have had visits where I felt relief the same day, so I think it depends on how long the vertebrae have been out of alignment as to how many treatments are needed.

Sometimes it takes more than one adjustment to position a vertebrae - and months to reduce the pressure on a nerve - Occasionally, he can adjust the vertebrae in a visit of two - but usually it takes time to keep it in the correct position - as your muscles have "Memory" - and they will try to pull it back into the previous position. Over time, the muscle gains "new" memory and will allow the disc to stay in the "correct" position. Nerves regenerate at the rate of about 1/16 in . per month - so a "pinched" or compressed nerve has to have the compression relieved and growth resumed before you start to see evidence of feeling, reduced burning, etc. return.

Adjustments are also "cumulative" meaning that one build on the last one to accomplish the desired result.

Chiropractic works - not in all cases, but it has kept me from back surgery, after 2 orthopedics wanted to operate. Chiropractic was my last resort before surgery - that was 5 years ago --

Bellevue Chiropractor - Dr. Edward Owens D.C. Instant relief can occur with just one chiropractic treatment and that may be the case for you. However, the length of treatment period largely varies according to the extent of the damage acquired by the patient and other factors. Pain is created by many facets and handling pain isn't always a one-shot deal.

I wrote an article on the different types of chiropractic care and that should help you with the question further:

http://chiropracticofbellevue.com/8-Types-of-Chiro...

good luck!

basic physiology. you need to remember what governs muscle tone, and all else in the body, the nervous system. you have the last part correct, now i have given you have the first. it is nerve interference that causes muscles to elongate and weaken, producing postural distortions. chiropractic is about correcting the cause of nerve interference. you cannot make neurogenically weak muscles strong through exercise. physical therapy and massage are oblivious to this fact, not that they could correct it anyway. this is why anything other than genuine chiropractic care is a waste of time, effort, and money.