Dr. Jerome Fryer Chiropractor

03/05/2026

Subject sacrifice for science. Good thing I had good shoulders....haha

https://www.ualberta.ca/en/rehabilitation/news-and-events/news/2015/april/pull-my-finger-say-scientists-who-solve-knuckle-cracking-riddle.html

03/05/2026

Mechanics matter, especially in synovial joints. New paper in support of our work.

New fluid-mechanics research suggests joint cracking may begin with tiny vortices that trigger cavitation inside synovial fluid during joint separation.

03/04/2026

Education VERY VERY important!

02/25/2026

For decades, the familiar “joint crack” has been explained as a collapsing bubble inside the joint. But modern imaging suggests something different — the cavity forms and persists rather than collapsing immediately.

I’ve just uploaded a new synchronized high-speed dataset (4000+ frames/sec) showing the event alongside sound and mechanical measurements. The goal is to better understand what actually changes mechanically after cavitation — especially the temporary reduction in stiffness during the refractory period — and how that may relate to why some people feel relief after manipulation and others don’t.

This is part of an ongoing effort to move beyond tradition and study spinal mechanics directly through measurable physical behavior.

If you’re curious, you can explore the data and discussion here:
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21411.31526

I’d also love to hear your thoughts — clinicians, patients, and researchers alike.

PDF | This dataset contains synchronized measurements of a reproducible synovial joint cracking event obtained from a closed in-vitro joint model with... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

02/24/2026

02/22/2026

Pretty proud of this one.

02/08/2026

Time to modernize for British Columbians

02/07/2026

In the spirit of the Olympics, here is an extension based strategy from a flexion based injury in a speed skater. A sport I did for 13 years. I got lucky I think.

Conservative chiropractic management utilizing McKenzie-based protocols within a coordinated multidisciplinary framework achieved excellent outcomes in this elite athlete with lumbar disc herniation and radiculopathy, including successful return to competitive performance with enhanced outcomes.

02/04/2026

If you are interested in seeing the cracking event at high speed, this new blog shows the experimental setup and a video capture

Joint cracking has been debated for decades—bubbles collapsing, tissues snapping, or something else entirely.

In this post, I share what we learned from controlled joint-cracking experiments conducted at UBC, where force, sound, motion, and high-speed imaging were captured together.

The findings help explain why joints crack, why some cracks are louder than others, and why there’s a refractory period afterward—all from a fluid-mechanics perspective.

If you’re interested in how joints actually behave under load, you may find this useful. :)

Joint cracking occurs when a fluid cavity forms inside a synovial joint. Laboratory models and imaging explain why joints crack and reset.

02/03/2026

I was recently notified of a new citation on one of my publications regarding joint cracking. I wanted to write about their common themes as we learn about joints and their sounds in physics. Here is a picture of me in a study on joint cavitation.

Joint cracking is caused by rapid cavity formation, not bubble collapse. MRI, in-vitro models, and fluid physics explain what really happens inside joints.

01/23/2026

Still glad I made the investments.

Attention to indoor ventilation has been prioritized within this new renovation with continuous exchange with the outside air.

11/24/2025

Received this in the mail today.