An honest answer, from Dr. Brant Larsen.
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This is one of the first questions almost every new patient asks me. The honest answer is: it depends — on the technique, the area being addressed, and the person.
It varies by technique
Some cranial contacts are very light — a gentle, sustained pressure that many patients barely notice. Cranial Facial Release (CFR), by contrast, is a faster technique that works through the nasal passages, and it can definitely be felt. Drop-piece adjusting involves a quick, controlled impulse rather than sustained pressure.
I explain what I’m about to do before I do it, so nothing comes as a surprise, and I pay close attention to how you’re responding throughout.
What patients commonly describe afterward
These are things patients have told me they noticed after an adjustment. I share them as patient experiences, not as something you should expect to happen every time:
- A sense that the head feels lighter
- A feeling of increased openness or ease
- Different sensation in breathing
- Changes in neck or jaw movement
Everyone is different. Some patients notice something right away; others don’t notice anything obvious for a day or two, and some don’t notice a distinct change at all. None of those responses is necessarily more or less meaningful than another — it’s one reason I reassess rather than assume.
Is any soreness normal?
Some patients feel mild, short-lived soreness or fatigue after an adjustment, similar to what some people experience after other manual therapies. If anything feels persistently wrong, tell me — that’s information I want.
Related reading
See what happens during a cranial adjustment, or check the FAQ for more common questions.