A chiropractic adjustment is a force administered to a joint in order to get it to move properly. Chiropractic adjustments can be applied in a variety of ways, including manually, with an activator, with SOT blocks, or with a drop table. Multiple of these adjustment techniques may be utilized during a chiropractic visit.

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During a chiropractic adjustment, what people call a "crack" may be heard. This "crack" is a tribonucleation which is the sound of a gas bubble being created within the joint.