Explain to the patient the need for relaxation. Make it clear to him that less force will be required if his muscles are passive. Remind him frequently of this and assume that he desires to relax. A word immediately before the adjustment often induces a temporary relaxation during which the adjustment is given. Anything which detracts the attention from the coming shock is an aid. Sometimes asking the patient to inhale and exhale slowly and deeply will sufficiently take his attention from the adjustment. Experience will teach him that he suffers less pain when relaxed and presently relaxation becomes a habit. Instructing patients to think of sleep, turning the eyeballs upward, has been effective with some. Muscular Suggestion This can only be given by maintaining a state of relaxation in one’s own muscles, which in itself is desirable in most cases, for reasons to be presently explained. In handling Cervical vertebrae move the head gently from side to side with your own hands relaxed as much as possible. The lazy motion suggests relaxation. Then when it is felt that the neck is thoroughly relaxed, vary the motion with a quick adjusting movement. In Dorsal and Lumbar regions after the hands are in correct position the adjuster should pause a moment both to be sure that the direction of movement and his purpose to move are clearly fixed in his mind and to be certain that both himself and the patient are relaxed. The adjustment is given instantly and from a perfectly lax muscle, as a boxer strikes. An added advantage is the greater amount of speed and control which may be commanded in this way. The lax arm, being in a neutral state as regards motion, can be contracted in any desired direction without loss of force or of time, whereas a taut muscle cannot further effect motion of the arm without relaxation of its antagonistic muscles, which takes time. Muscular Control Considerable contral over one’s own muscles is necessary in order perfectly to relax arm and shoulder muscles just before the adjustment and then to utilize a measured and determined quantity of force in a desired direction. To acquire this much practice is necessary--practice on the living subject. The desired end may be hastened, however, by acquiring the abstract property of muscular control or by developing control already gained. Many different forms of exercise will aid in the acquisition of muscular control and the ability to relax and then to follow the relaxation with an instantaneous whiplike contraction in a given direction. The best of these is without doubt _bag-punching_. The movements employed with a punching-bag, especially the lateral quadruple movement with both elbows and both hands, tend to develop precisely the sort of control needed for correct adjusting. The beginner can do no better than to practice in this way, by which, it must be remembered, only a necessary _property_, and not by any means the exact movement, may be acquired. Amount of Force