This is an awesome and important question for any patient who cares about staying healthy. A Vertebral Subluxation is a vertebra (one or more) that is out of alignment or is unable to move freely. There are 5 proven medical components to vertebral subluxation. Abnormal motion or position of spinal bones. Abnormal nervous system function Abnormal muscle function Abnormal soft tissue function Degeneration of vertebral joints The chiropractic adjustment is the art and science of using a specific force by hand or by medical instrument to restore normal motion and alignment to subluxated vertebrae.