Complaints & connections · borters.ch
Mobilisation and a short thrust at joints — the crack comes from the joint fluid, not from a vertebra clicking back into place.
Also known as: chiropractic · manual therapy
Open in the tool — with search and all the links →This compilation is for information and replaces neither medical diagnosis nor treatment. If you have symptoms, see a doctor.
Chiropractic is a manual treatment that works above all on the spine and the joints. Two techniques are used: mobilisation, in which a joint is slowly led through its range of movement, and the short, targeted thrust at the end of that range. The cracking often heard comes from the joint fluid — it arises from a sudden change of pressure in the joint space and is neither a sign of success nor of a vertebra returning to its place. In Switzerland chiropractic is a federally regulated medical profession with university training; its services are among the compulsory benefits of basic insurance, and access is possible without a referral — except in the family-doctor or Telmed models. The treatment has been studied above all for back and neck pain; in the recommendations it stands there as one of several active options alongside movement and exercises. Common accompanying effects are temporary stiffness and aching muscles for a day or two. There are situations in which no manipulation is done, and they belong clarified before the first session.
Blood thinning, osteoporosis, cortisone over a longer period, a tumour illness, a fresh injury. This information changes the technique — and is only taken into account if it is mentioned.
New weakness in a leg, altered sensation in the saddle area, disturbance of bladder or bowel, fever, unintended weight loss or pain that does not ease at night: that belongs looked at by a doctor first, whatever treatment is chosen.
In the recommendations manual treatment stands alongside movement, exercises and explanation, not in their place. Combining both makes the session a door-opener for what happens between appointments.
It is usual to take stock together after a few sessions: what has changed, what has not? A fixed checkpoint protects against treatments that simply carry on.
Anyone who does not want the thrust on the neck can say so; mobilisation, soft-tissue techniques and exercises are alternatives. This choice belongs to the person being treated.
In Switzerland chiropractic is among the compulsory benefits of basic insurance. In the family-doctor or Telmed models the first step nonetheless goes through the practice or the advice line — otherwise the bill can be left unpaid.
In acute back pain the benefit sits, in reviews, about level with movement and painkillers; it is judged after four to six treatments over two to four weeks. If nothing has changed by then, further sessions as a rule add nothing. A temporary worsening for one to two days affects about one in two. Serious incidents are rare and concern almost only manipulation of the neck.
The thrust releases the block in a joint and the muscle tension around it; the click comes from gas released in the joint space, not from a bone snapping into place. What it does not do: push a disc prolapse back or undo arthritis. It is judged after four to six treatments — if nothing changes, continuing as a rule achieves nothing. At the neck, warning signs are asked about beforehand.
First conversation and examination, then the treatment by hand, often supplemented by exercises for at home. Imaging is not a precondition and is arranged only with certain signs.
It arises in the joint space and does not occur at all with some techniques. Something can change without a sound — and with a sound nothing need have changed.
Aching muscles and stiffness for a day or two are common and settle by themselves. New or increasing complaints, on the other hand, belong reported back.
Marked osteoporosis, a fresh fracture, an infection, a known tumour, a newly appeared loss of strength, altered sensation in the saddle area or bladder problems. These points are asked about beforehand.
With thrust techniques on the neck a very rare incident is mentioned: a tear in the wall of an artery of the neck. Anyone with new severe neck pain and headache is examined first rather than treated; alternatives without a thrust exist.
No value measures the treatment. This one counts for caution: under blood-thinning treatment the technique is adapted, and that belongs said before the first session.
This value too belongs to caution, not to the treatment: back pain with fever or raised inflammatory values is investigated before any manual work.
Stands here for the bones. With known osteoporosis or long cortisone treatment, work is done without the thrust technique — mobilisation and exercises take over.
A drop in circulation with pallor, sweating and nausea occurs almost only on an empty stomach and while sitting. A small bite beforehand and being treated lying down takes the ground from it.
Having drunk enough lessens dizziness and headache afterwards. That water flushes something out afterwards is a description and not a demonstrated effect — it is sensible anyway.
When a treatment works on muscles, tendons or fascia, the recovery needs building material. That holds for every method that concerns the moving apparatus.
Anyone who quickly gets dizzy at every treatment often has an empty iron store. That is no reason against the method, but a pointer worth taking along.
Before a treatment at the neck it belongs said what thins the blood — and that includes not only warfarin-type medicines and aspirin, but also high-dose omega-3, ginkgo, garlic preparations and vitamin E in large amounts. The reason is rare but serious: a tear in the artery of the neck.
The second point that belongs beforehand: bone density. With known osteoporosis, long cortisone treatment or after the menopause, no vigorous manipulation is done but gentle techniques are used. Vitamin D and calcium are the groundwork of that bone, not the permission for it.
Clearly effective with proven deficiency, useless without. Take only with a documented deficiency — excess is harmful.
The relief immediately after the treatment runs through the body’s own opioids and a brief relaxation of the muscles. The cracking itself is gas in the joint fluid — it says nothing about success.
With osteoporosis sharp manipulations of the spine do not belong — the bone holds less than it looks. Anyone with a bone density measurement brings it; anyone without one says so.
Before forceful manipulation the state of the bone counts. In osteoporosis the technique is adapted — that is where nutrition and the hands meet.
In back pain about as effective as physiotherapy. With manipulation of the neck very rare but serious vessel injuries are described — that belongs in an honest weighing.