Meyerson Chiropractic Center
Dr. Jason Meyerson - Ellicott City, Maryland
Dr. Jason Meyerson - Ellicott City, Maryland
Answers to some of the questions Dr. Jason is asked most often. Have a question that isn't covered here? Contact us – we're happy to help.
When two bones in any joint of the body move slightly apart there is a pressure change in the joint. The fluid in the joint (which is there for lubrication and nutrition) releases a gas when the pressure changes. This is similar to opening a carbonated drink: the pressure change causes the gas release that you can see and hear.
Similarly, when someone ‘cracks’ their knuckles the sound is from a gas release in the joints of the fingers. It takes about 20 minutes for the gas to be reabsorbed, and then you can ‘crack’ them again. When getting adjusted by a chiropractor, the spinal joints often make a noise (popping/clicking sound) that is just gas being released from the spinal joint fluid.
There are many spinal adjusting techniques in the chiropractic profession. Primarily, a chiropractor can be faster or slower (speed) or heavier/stronger or lighter (amount of force and depth). HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) is the technical term for the most common type of adjusting. When adjusting by hand, the adjustment should be tailored to the person, whether a baby/child, an adult, an athlete, dancer, desk jockey, pregnant, special needs or a senior. Some people require or like an adjustment with more force or depth, and others need or desire something lighter or more subtle. The person getting adjusted and the chiropractor should be able to communicate and work together to find what is best for each person.
No matter how gentle the adjustment, some people are either not able to or not interested in the type of adjustments where they hear a popping noise or experience any twisting. In addition, there are people who, due to circumstances, may not be able to get into a normal adjusting position, such as lying on their stomach or on their side. In these situations, there are options.
The main and often best option is instrument adjusting. The most common adjusting instrument (tool) is a spring-loaded device called the Activator (picture a hand-size pogo stick). Due to its speed, an Activator is able to create enough force to correct a subluxation (misalignment) without making a popping noise and with the person remaining in a neutral position.
The only way you can know for certain that you need to be adjusted is to have a chiropractor analyze/check your spine. If we check your spine and find no subluxations, then there is nothing to adjust, regardless of how you feel. If you feel fine but we find a subluxation, then you should get adjusted. Subluxations are always bad for the body, and since you may not know if you have one, you should have your spine checked regularly by a chiropractor.
When a spinal bone gets misaligned and interferes with the nervous system, that is a vertebral subluxation. The innate ability of the body to self-regulate, adapt, perform, produce chemicals, fight infections, heal, express life and more are all dependent on a properly functioning nervous system (the communication network of the body). Any time that system is disrupted, it is always detrimental to the body. Getting adjusted to correct a vertebral subluxation removes the interference between the brain and the body and always results in improved function, strength, health and life.
As soon as someone is born they can have their spine checked (it is way too hard to check them while in the womb). Personally, my kids were about an hour old when I was able to check them. Usually in the office I get to check babies/infants for their first visit when they are anywhere from a week or two to several months old.
Being born is a stressful event on the mom and also on the baby. Depending on the birth, sometimes spinal misalignments can occur as a result.
The everyday stresses of life are enough to cause a misalignment/subluxation that interferes with the proper function of your nervous system. Stopping in regularly, and getting checked and adjusted as needed, is a critical piece of a healthy lifestyle. This proactive approach is a vast improvement over responding from crisis to crisis. The health and life choices we make now, and that we are really always making, will absolutely affect us now and in our future.
Often people think that someone should see a chiropractor only if they have a symptom. Unfortunately, many chiropractors actually educate, advertise and encourage people in that very way of reactive, symptom-oriented thinking. The truth is anyone who has a spine and is alive (you must meet these 2 criteria) should have their spine checked on a regular, ongoing basis.
We all experience stress, and its damaging effects, on a daily basis. In order to maintain a full expression of life, free of nerve interference, we all need to get checked and adjusted. This applies to and can truly benefit anyone and everyone.
People often think of chiropractic as only for adults. The truth is infants, toddlers, young kids and teens have enough stressors in their day-to-day lives that can lead to spinal misalignments/subluxations (falling, sports, school, siblings, posture on phone/device/laptop, emotions, carrying, playing, etc.). These misalignments do not always result in symptoms or pain, but they do necessitate getting adjusted so they can experience a full expression of life.
Adjusting an infant or child is much different than adjusting an adult. The care is gentle, and the amount of force used is much, much less than on an adult. I have had the privilege of checking and adjusting many babies, toddlers and young kids over 30 years of practice.
Personally, I get my spine checked at least once per week (same for my family). That is my minimum, and I have been doing that for over 30 years. Usually I end up having my spine checked more often.
Unfortunately, I cannot check and adjust my own spine. However, I am very grateful to know several other excellent chiropractors in the area, and many farther away as well. During a normal week, 2 to 3 (sometimes more) chiropractors stop by to get adjusted, and I usually get adjusted by them. I sometimes visit another chiropractor's office on my off days.