Chiropractic medicine is all over TikTok and social media. It is a very popular form of medicine practiced to cure pain and relieve aches. Chiropractic adjustments are performed by the chiropractor who assesses the patient’s condition and performs adjustments accordingly. This involves chiropractors applying pressure on specific areas of the body in order for the patient to feel relief. It is usually followed by a “pop” or “crack” sound. There are many different types of adjustments, including full body adjustments or just specific parts of the body that are aching. These can include back adjustments, neck adjustments, shoulder adjustments and many more. However, in most cases, the pain returns, and it sometimes does more harm than good. 

The cracking or popping of knuckles, for example, is a common practice by many people. When the knuckles are cracked there is a release of air in the joints. There is synovial fluid in our joints, which creates bubbles over time. When pressure is applied, those air bubbles pop, creating a popping or cracking sound. This is similar in the process of being adjusted, yet chiropractors claim to be “realigning your body,” rather than releasing air in the joints.There are a myriad of views on the effects of chiropractic medicine. Many medical professionals such as doctors voice their opinions about the effects of these adjustments. According to the National Library of Medicine, among eligible physicians, about half of them endorsed a positive impression of chiropractic medicine, 27% were unsure, and 25% held negative views. Chiropractic medicine and adjustments may induce temporary relief, but the pain will likely return, and they will need to seek medical care from an MD. Chiropractors do not go to medical school and so they are not considered medical doctors.

There is not much evidence to support that this chiropractic treatment is harmful, and it could just be viewed as a treatment of relief with no medical benefit, such as a massage, for relaxation and relief purposes. A worrying factor of this practice however, that even started a trend on TikTok, is hair pulling. This is the act of pulling a strand of hair to hear a popping sound. Many medical professionals have advised against this, as it is actually the detachment of a layer of skin to the skull, and it can cause inflammation and other issues. 

Chiropractic medicine can help with pain and give temporary relief. But, this will not give any long term relief or benefit, as there is no scientific evidence to prove that these adjustments actually realign and fix the patient’s problems that the chiropractors claim.