The diagnosis may be purely biomechanical.
It is important to understand that nothing is “out of joint” — and one cannot “pop something back into place” or “realign” a joint in that sense. Such descriptions are anatomically incorrect.
From a chiropractic perspective, the issue involves reduced mobility in one or more joints.
This restriction can range from slightly decreased movement to severe fixation or locking.
In an optimal situation, every joint should move freely and symmetrically.
However, in many cases, there is also an underlying neurological dysfunction, resulting in a functional neurological diagnosis.
The latter is crucial — because without addressing the underlying cause, treatment will only target the symptom, not the source of the problem.