St. Louis Chiropractic Adjustment

Chiropractic Adjustments at Our Kirkwood Clinic

A chiropractic adjustment, also called spinal manipulation, is a quick, controlled movement to a stiff or sore joint. It's one of the most studied hands-on treatments for low back pain, neck pain, and some types of headaches, and for most people it eases pain and helps them move more freely.

But an adjustment on its own usually isn't the whole answer. Pain and stiffness can be influenced by many factors, including muscle tension, movement habits, stress, and physical conditioning. That's why our chiropractors often combine adjustments with myofascial release and exercises you can do at home.

You choose how much time you need. Some patients come in for a quick 10-minute adjustment. Others prefer 20 or 40 minutes for soft-tissue work, questions, and a more comprehensive approach. Not sure which is right for you? We'll help you choose.

What our patients are saying

"Dr. O'Guin is the best I've found in town that actually takes the time to get what my issues and goals are and offer adjustments, treatments, and exercises to actually help. He doesn't just offer generic adjustments, it is very personalized"

- Brian DeNatale

"Both Doctors will listen to what you are saying about your body and target those areas. I went to another Chiropractic office and all they did was put stim on my back and do an adjustment. Here, they dig a little deeper into the muscle and work on those knots."

- Megan Buechel

"I'd never been to a chiropractor before, but a friend recommended them when I was having lower back pain. From the moment I walked in, I felt comfortable and cared for. Dr. Hagerman and I discussed my symptoms, and then we did an adjustment and daily stretches to target my lower back. I felt better immediately."

- Bradley Seabaugh

Visit options and pricing

• Tune-Up, 10 minutes: $55. A quick adjustment, with a little soft-tissue work if needed. Best for established patients.
• Focused, 20 minutes: $110. More time for adjustments, myofascial release, or focused mobility work.
• Comprehensive, 40 minutes: $165. A longer session with time for assessment, adjustments, hands-on treatment, and individualized exercise recommendations. Recommended for new patients.

If you prefer regular care, we offer packages and memberships that reduce the cost per visit. We're happy to explain your options—no pressure.

Self-pay · HSA and FSA accepted · Superbills available for out-of-network reimbursement

Returning patient? See all visit options →

How Do Chiropractic Adjustments Work?

Chiropractic adjustments, also known as spinal manipulation, can help reduce pain, ease stiffness, and improve movement. But how they work is more interesting—and more complicated—than simply putting bones back into place.

Spinal manipulation has its skeptics and its enthusiastic supporters. The research supports neither dismissing it entirely nor treating it as the answer to every ache and pain. Several mechanisms may contribute to its effects, and we're still learning which matter most. Let's explore what might actually be happening during an adjustment.

Do chiropractic adjustments put bones back into place?

It's common to hear people say their back is "out of alignment" or that a chiropractor needs to put a vertebra back into place. While these descriptions may reflect how someone feels, they aren't typically what's happening anatomically.

Your spinal joints are supported by strong ligaments, muscles, and other connective tissues. In most cases, the vertebrae haven't slipped out of place, and an adjustment isn't pushing them back into position.

Instead, spinal manipulation applies a controlled force to a joint and its surrounding tissues. This can influence joint mobility, muscle activity, and how the nervous system processes pain. For some people, that can create a noticeable sense of relief or improved movement.

That doesn't mean the relief is imaginary. It simply means that the benefits of an adjustment are more complex than correcting a misalignment. Want the deeper explanation? Read: Do Chiropractors Put Bones Back in Place?

What Happens to Your Body During a Chiropractic Adjustment?

There’s no single explanation, but researchers have focused on a few likely possibilities.

Nervous system reflexes. Your joints and muscles are packed with tiny sensors that track position, pressure, and movement. A quick adjustment sends a burst of signals from those sensors to your spinal cord. That input may help calm pain signals and relax overactive muscles nearby. Some researchers describe it as a brief “reset” for the nervous system.

Releasing a pinched joint fold. The small joints along your spine are lined with thin folds of tissue. Occasionally, one may get pinched between the joint surfaces, causing sharp pain and making the joint feel locked or stuck. An adjustment briefly separates the joint surfaces, which may free that fold. This is hard to confirm in living people, but it fits the sudden “stuck” neck or back many people describe.

Restoring joint motion. When one area of the spine stops moving well, the muscles around it often tighten and work less smoothly. Adjustments can improve motion at that level and help the surrounding muscles coordinate better.

The overall experience. As with any treatment, context matters too. Being listened to, feeling safe, and trusting your provider can all influence pain. That isn’t a knock on adjustments. It’s true of nearly every form of care.

Why does it feel like something is out of place?

Even when nothing has slipped out of place, it can feel like it has. That feeling is real, and it comes from your nervous system.

Your joints and muscles have two kinds of sensors worth knowing about. Pain receptors warn you when something might be harmful. Position sensors, called proprioceptors, tell your brain where your body is and how it’s moving. They’re why you can close your eyes and still touch your nose.

When a joint or muscle is irritated, pain receptors fire more often. That extra noise can drown out your position sensors and blur your sense of where things are. The result often feels like something is crooked, stuck, or needs to “pop back in.” An irritated or pinched joint fold, described above, may be part of what sets this off.

This also helps explain why an adjustment can bring such quick relief, even though nothing was put back in place. It changes the signals coming from that area, so it can start to feel normal again.

What causes the popping sound during a chiropractic adjustment?

The popping or cracking sound you sometimes hear during a chiropractic adjustment isn't bones rubbing together or snapping back into place. It's a phenomenon called joint cavitation.

Your joints contain synovial fluid, which helps lubricate their surfaces. During an adjustment, the joint surfaces briefly separate, causing a rapid drop in pressure. This can create a gas-filled cavity within the joint fluid, producing the familiar popping sound.

But here's something important: A successful adjustment doesn't require a pop. The sound doesn't necessarily indicate how effective the treatment was, and a louder pop doesn't mean a better adjustment. If you're not a fan of the pop, gentler techniques can still ease pain and improve movement. We'll adjust you in whatever way feels most comfortable.

Want to understand what's actually happening inside the joint? In the video below, Dr. O'Guin explains the science of joint cavitation and what researchers have discovered using real-time MRI.

Are chiropractic adjustments safe?

Chiropractic adjustments are generally safe when performed by a trained clinician. The most common side effects are temporary soreness, stiffness, or a mild headache, which usually fade within a day or two.

Serious complications are rare, but no hands-on treatment is risk-free. Neck adjustments get the most attention because of a reported link with cervical artery dissection, a rare neck artery tear that can lead to stroke. But people with an early dissection may seek care for the neck pain or headache it causes, from chiropractors and medical doctors alike. In a 2026 study of more than 860,000 patients, neck manipulation showed no increased risk compared with ibuprofen.

At Embody, safety starts with your history, symptoms, and risk factors. Before an adjustment, we position the joint first and check how you respond. If anything feels wrong or you can’t relax into it, we change the approach. Not everyone is a good fit for spinal manipulation, and gentler mobilization, soft-tissue work, or exercise are always options.

If you’d rather not have your neck or back adjusted, just tell us. We’ll find another way.

Ready to see if adjustments can help? Book a visit →

Chiropractic Adjustment FAQs

Can you get adjusted too much?

It’s possible. Your joints have a natural end range that helps keep them stable. Adjusting the same joint too often or too forcefully may gradually loosen the ligaments that provide that stability, leaving a joint that moves too much.

The same goes for cracking your own neck or back many times a day. That constant urge to pop usually points to an irritated area that needs attention, not a joint that needs more cracking.

The research here is limited, but it's why we target adjustments to the areas that need them and pair them with strength and movement, so you're not relying on adjustments alone.

How often should you get a chiropractic adjustment?

It depends on your symptoms, goals, and how you respond to treatment. Some people benefit from a few visits during a painful episode, while others appreciate occasional adjustments to manage recurring stiffness or discomfort. For a new flare-up, we’ll usually check your progress after a few visits to make sure it’s helping.

At Embody, we don’t believe everyone needs adjustments indefinitely. Our goal is to help you feel better, move confidently, and become less dependent on treatment whenever possible.

Do chiropractic adjustments hurt?

For most people, no. Many describe an adjustment as relieving, like a good stretch or finally letting go of tension that’s been building up. You may feel brief pressure as the joint is positioned, but the adjustment itself is quick.

Some people feel mild soreness for a day or so afterward, especially after their first visit or if the area was already irritated. It’s usually similar to how you feel after a new workout. If you’d prefer a gentler approach, we’ll adjust to your comfort level.

Can I see a chiropractor without getting adjusted?

Absolutely. Spinal manipulation is just one of the tools we use at Embody. Depending on your needs, your appointment may include myofascial release, joint mobilization, therapeutic exercise, or other hands-on treatments.

Our focus is finding the right approach for you, whether that includes an adjustment or not.

What types of chiropractic adjustments do you offer?

We use several techniques, including traditional hands-on spinal manipulation, gentler joint mobilization, and flexion-distraction, a slow, rhythmic stretch on a specialized table.

We also offer Y-strap adjustments, which we mostly use for gentle decompression through the spine. For disc-related pain, spinal decompression is another option.

Beyond the spine, we can also adjust or mobilize the shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and other joints. No single technique is best for everyone, so we consider your symptoms, goals, and preferences when choosing an approach.

What conditions can chiropractic adjustments help?

Research supports spinal manipulation most strongly for low back pain and neck pain, and it may also help some types of headaches. We also use it as part of care for sciatica, pinched nerves, and disc bulges, usually alongside decompression, soft-tissue work, and exercise.

Hands-on care can also help with shoulder pain, hip pain, and TMJ issues. Not sure if we’re a good fit for your problem? Schedule a free call and we’ll give you an honest answer.

How do chiropractors know where to adjust?

We start with your story: where it hurts, what makes it better or worse, and how it started. Then we look at how you move and use our hands to find areas that are tender, stiff, or tight. We also check whether a restriction feels more like tight muscle or a stiff joint, since that changes the treatment.

No single test is perfect, so we combine what we find and pay attention to how you respond. If an area moves and feels better after treatment, we know we’re on the right track.

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