The goal of the chiropractic adjustment is to correct the spinal subluxations sometimes referred to as a misaligned vertebrae that are detected during the examination. A doctor performs an adjustment by applying gentle pressure to the vertebrae and unlocking it from its improper position. The bone will then be free to align itself correctly.
Many people think that the chiropractor forces a vertebra back into its proper place, but only the individual’s own “innate” intelligence knows for sure what the proper place for each bone is. The role of the chiropractor is to mobilize the vertebrae, allowing the body to do its job by moving the vertebrae back into the correct position. Unfortunately, the muscles connected to subluxated vertebrae get used to their abnormal positions and have a tendency to pull the bone back out of place. It may take several adjustments before the adjustment holds, and the bone settles into its proper alignment.