Ir al menú principal Ir al contenido principal Ir al pie de página Para Medicare Para Proveedores Para Agentes Para Empleadores English Para individuos y familias: Para individuos y familias Médica Dental Otros seguros complementarios Explorar cobertura a través de tu empleador Cómo comprar seguros de salud Tipos de seguro dental Período de Inscripción Abierta vs. Período Especial de Inscripción Ver todos los temas Comprar planes de Medicare Guía para miembros Buscar un médico Ingresar a myCigna
Inicio Centro de información Biblioteca del bienestar Spinal Manipulation

Spinal Manipulation

Overview

Spinal manipulation is a treatment that uses pressure on a joint of the spine to improve pain and function. It is also called spinal adjustment.

The manipulation can be done with the hands or a special device. The careful, controlled force used on the joint can range from gentle to strong and from slow to rapid. Sometimes other joints of the body are also worked on to help treat the spine.

If you have tight muscles or muscles that spasm, your health care provider may first use heat, ultrasound, or electrical current. This helps relax your muscles before you receive spinal manipulation.

This treatment is safe when done by a trained health professional. Some people feel tired or sore after spinal manipulation. But serious problems are very rare.

Spinal manipulation can work as well as other treatments for back pain, whether the pain is new or has lasted a long time. But pain relief from this treatment may only last for a short time.

Like most back pain treatments, spinal manipulation works for some people but not for others.

Why might you choose this treatment for back pain?

You might consider spinal manipulation if:

  • Your back pain hasn't improved after a few weeks of other treatments, such as heat or ice, pain medicine, or physical therapy.
  • You want a treatment that involves hands-on contact.
  • You want to avoid medicines and their possible side effects.
  • You've had spinal manipulation before, and it helped.

How does spinal manipulation feel?

Spinal manipulation normally doesn't hurt. If you're already in pain because of your back, it may hurt to move. But manipulation is aimed at making you feel better.

The most familiar type of spinal manipulation is the hands-on approach: You lie on a table while the health professional uses their hands or a device to apply pressure to an area of your spine. Some people call this "cracking" your back because of the popping sound that is sometimes made. But nothing is actually "cracking." The sound happens when the tissues of the spinal joint are stretched.

Some health professionals use a drop table for manipulations. Parts of the table drop slightly when the health professional presses down on your back. The table is noisy, but this method is actually very gentle.

Some health professionals use a handheld device called an activator to do spinal manipulations. This is also very gentle.

Who can do spinal manipulation?

Health care providers who are commonly trained to do spinal manipulation include:

  • Chiropractors.
  • Osteopathic doctors.
  • Physical therapists.
  • Medical doctors, such as physiatrists.

Current as of: July 17, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

© 2024 Ignite Healthwise, LLC. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

Enlaces relacionados

Office Ergonomics Upper and Middle Back Pain Low Back Pain Lumbar Herniated Disc

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

Quiero...

Obtener una tarjeta ID Presentar un reclamo Ver mis reclamos y EOB Verificar la cobertura de mi plan Ver la lista de medicamentos con receta Buscar un médico, dentista o centro dentro de la red Buscar un formulario Buscar información del formulario de impuestos 1095-B Ver el Glosario de Cigna Comunicarme con Cigna

Audiencia

Individuos y familias Medicare Empleadores Agentes Proveedores

Sitios seguros para miembros

Portal myCigna para miembros Portal para proveedores de cuidado de la salud Cigna para empleadores Portal de recursos para clientes Cigna para agentes

Información sobre The Cigna Group

Acerca de Cigna Healthcare Perfil de la compañía Empleos Sala de prensa Inversionistas Distribuidores The Cigna Group Administradores externos Internacional Evernorth

 Cigna. Todos los derechos reservados.

Privacidad Asuntos legales Divulgaciones sobre productos Nombres de la compañía Cigna Derechos de los clientes Accesibilidad Aviso sobre no discriminación Asistencia idiomática [PDF] Reportar fraude Mapa del sitio Configuración de cookies

Aviso legal

Los planes individuales y familiares de seguro médico y dental están asegurados por Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc. y Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Los planes de beneficios de salud y de seguro de salud de grupo están asegurados o administrados por CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC) o sus afiliadas (puedes ver un listado de las entidades legales que aseguran o administran HMO para grupos, HMO dentales y otros productos o servicios en tu estado). Los planes o pólizas de seguro para lesiones accidentales, enfermedades críticas y cuidado hospitalario son distribuidos exclusivamente por o a través de subsidiarias operativas de Cigna Corporation, son administrados por Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company y están asegurados por (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT), (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA) o (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), anteriormente llamada Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. El nombre Cigna, el logotipo y otras marcas de Cigna son propiedad de Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA y NYLGICNY no son afiliadas de Cigna.

Todas las pólizas de seguros y los planes de beneficios de grupo contienen exclusiones y limitaciones. Para conocer la disponibilidad, los costos y detalles completos de la cobertura, comunícate con un agente autorizado o con un representante de ventas de Cigna. Este sitio web no está dirigido a los residentes de New Mexico.

Al seleccionar estos enlaces saldrás de Cigna.com hacia otro sitio web que podría no ser un sitio web de Cigna. Cigna no puede controlar el contenido ni los enlaces de sitios web que no son de Cigna. Detalles