When a vertebrae becomes misaligned or moves out of its normal position, this is referred to in structural chiropractic as structural shift. These structural shifts can be caused by a wide range of issues ranging from a minor slip or bump to a car accident or any sudden trauma. When a spine has structural shift, it begins to put mechanical stress on everything around it and connected to it. This mechanical stress comes with a price. The structural shift obstructs and interferes with the messaging from the brain to the body and vice versa.
As time goes by and a structural shift remains uncorrected, the spine and surrounding features such as discs can begin to degenerate due to increased mechanical stress. This degeneration becomes more difficult to reverse as time goes by as the surrounding muscles and tissues begin to adapt to the problems. The body is an amazing machine. It will start to accommodate these changes by compensating in other areas. The longer this goes on, the more difficult it is and the longer it takes to get back to near perfect position.