Adjustments & Manipulation

Adjustment_2.jpg Manual therapy, or manipulation as it is often referred to, is the movement of vertebrae in the spine and extremities. The objective of this movement is to realign vertebrae or restore motion to a joint that has moved out of place or has become fixated (lacking movement). These misalignments or joint fixations are caused by a number of reasons ranging from poor posture, repetitive movements, or trauma from a sports or auto accident.

When joints or vertebral segments go out of alignment or become fixated, several things happen including,  muscular spasm, limited range of motion, pain and nerve irritation. Without proper joint and spinal alignment the body can not function its peak potential.

An adjustment is an applied force from the chiropractor utilizing the hands or an instrument to move a vertebrae back into place or restore proper movement to a restricted joint. This happens with a quick movement and is often without discomfort. You may hear a noise that sounds like pop or crack, referred to as joint cavitation. This cavition is the release of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen from the joint capsule.


Adjustments are an excellent way to keep the body functioning at its highest level. When the body is in alignment and the joints are moving properly, the body is able to respond to environmental stress and can perform at its maximum potential.