Question
Hi there, Dr. Gillman,

Is it possible to have tenderness in the joints, muscles, bones after a session?  My doctor uses massages, stimulation and then manipulation as treatment for my chronic neck and shoulder pain.  I'm new to this doctor and the adjustments.  Is it possible that I have to "adjust" to the adjustments?

Answer
HI Kimberly.

Post treatment soreness from joint manipulation is very common and almost always benign and transient.   Usually pre-manipulation massage or other form of soft tissue preparation makes the manipulation less likely to cause soreness, and more skilled soft tissue treatment is best e.g. active release technique, graston technique, or others.   Also, the style of manipulation or the force of manipulation or the uniqueness (e.g. how the doctor contacts and thrusts through the joint) can make the difference between being sore and not being sore.   I, too, get sore when some DC's adjust my spine and not when others adjust my spine, even though they are all doing routine, conventional hands-on manipulation.   In my experience (there's no research on this), it seems that some people are more sensitive to post treatment soreness than others.    I would tell your DC to stop using electric stimulation.   First, it can cause the soreness.   Second, it doesn't fix anything or alter treatment outcomes.   Lastly, you may also find that there is less soreness if you add some strengthening exercises to help condition the spine musculature.

'Hope this helps.

DR. G'