The Chiropractic Adjustment

Spinal manipulation — commonly referred to as “an adjustment” — is one of the most well-known and widely used techniques in chiropractic care. It involves applying a controlled, targeted force to a specific joint in the spine or extremities that has become restricted and/or dysfunctional.

Everyday life can place a lot of stress on your spine and nervous system. We break these stressors down into 3 categories; physical, chemical and emotional stressors.
A Physical stressor refers to sustained postures, repetitively straining movements or acute tissue damage.
Chemical stressors refer to what we put into our body that may effect our health - alcohol, coffee, sugar, medications, hydration levels.
Emotional stressors refer to our psychological state - anxious, depressed, over-stimulated, under-stimulated/fatigued.

A chiropractic adjustment’s primary purpose is to decrease nociception (pain) and restore motion to these restricted and dysfunctional joints. A chiropractic adjustment can also improve nervous system function to help your body manage the physical, chemical and emotional stressors.

Spinal Manipulation

During the adjustment, your chiropractor will use their hands to apply a quick and precise force to a restricted/dysfunctional joint. You may hear an audible “click” or “pop” sound — this is simply the release of gas within the joint and is completely normal.

The benefits of chiropractic adjustments may include:

  • Improved spinal and joint mobility

  • Decreased pain and muscle tension/tone

  • Enhanced nervous system function

  • Greater ease in movement and posture

  • Improved athletic or workplace performance

While adjustments are often associated with treating back or neck pain, they’re also commonly used as part of broader wellness care, helping maintain healthy movement, prevent injury, and support your body’s natural ability to heal.

At Oak Chiropractic, adjustments are always tailored to your comfort level and needs. We explain everything clearly, we use a variety of techniques depending on what will get the best results, and always prioritise your safety throughout each visit.

If you have any questions about this technique, please ask one of our chiropractors the next time you attend Oak!