When most people think of chiropractic care, they immediately picture adjustments to the spine—the neck or lower back in particular. While it’s true that spinal adjustments are the foundation of what we do, chiropractors actually work with many other joints in the body. If a joint moves, there’s a good chance it can also become misaligned or restricted—and that’s where chiropractic care can help.
In the video below, I share three areas you might not realize chiropractors can adjust: the TMJ (jaw joint), the shoulder, and the ribs. Let’s take a closer look at each.
1. TMJ (Jaw Joint)
If you’ve ever dealt with jaw pain, clicking, popping, or even headaches connected to your jaw, you may be experiencing issues with the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. This joint connects your jaw to your skull and is essential for chewing, talking, and even breathing comfortably.
Stress, teeth grinding, or misalignment in the surrounding muscles and bones can all contribute to TMJ problems. Chiropractic adjustments—along with gentle muscle work and exercises—can help restore proper movement in the jaw and reduce pain. Many patients are surprised to learn that their chiropractor can provide relief for TMJ disorders without the need for medication or invasive treatments.
2. The Shoulder
Shoulder problems are incredibly common, especially for people who spend long hours at a desk, athletes, or anyone who does repetitive lifting or overhead movements. The shoulder is a complex joint made up of several moving parts, and even small misalignments can cause pain, stiffness, or weakness.
Chiropractic adjustments to the shoulder can improve mobility, relieve pain, and even help prevent injuries. By restoring normal joint motion, patients often notice less tension, better posture, and improved performance in both daily activities and sports. It’s not unusual for patients who come in for back or neck issues to realize that shoulder adjustments were the missing piece to resolving their discomfort.
3. Ribs
This one surprises people the most. Yes—chiropractors can adjust your ribs. If you’ve ever felt a sharp pain when taking a deep breath, twisting, or even just lying down, a misaligned rib could be the culprit. Ribs attach to the spine in the back and to the sternum in the front, and they can shift slightly out of place due to poor posture, sudden movements, or even prolonged coughing.
When a rib isn’t moving correctly, the pain can mimic more serious conditions, leaving people worried and uncomfortable. A gentle rib adjustment can often provide immediate relief, restoring normal breathing motion and reducing inflammation around the joint. Patients are often amazed at how quickly they feel better once the rib is back where it belongs.
Learn More in the Video
Chiropractic care goes far beyond the spine. By addressing joints like the TMJ, shoulders, and ribs, we’re able to help patients recover faster, move better, and feel healthier.
In the video below, I walk you through each of these adjustments, explain why they matter, and show you what to expect. If you’ve been dealing with jaw pain, shoulder discomfort, or unexplained chest or rib pain, this video is a must-watch.
👉 Watch now to see how chiropractic care can help more areas of your body than you might think.