When most people think of chiropractic care, they think of easing back pain or improving posture. But what if adjustments also affected your brain? A recent study has revealed some exciting ways chiropractic care may influence how the brain and nervous system work.
Fresh Insights from the Research
In a clinical trial with people suffering from long-term low back pain, researchers looked not just at pain levels but also at brain activity, nervous system responses, sleep patterns, and overall well-being.
Here’s what they found after a course of chiropractic care:
- Healthier brainwaves: Brain activity shifted toward patterns linked with being more alert, focused, and relaxed.
- Deeper rest and reflection: Areas of the brain involved in calm, introspective thinking became more active both right after adjustments and after several weeks.
- Calmer nervous system: The way the nervous system responded to stimulation changed, suggesting less tension and stress.
- Better sleep & mood: Sleep tracking showed improvements in rest, and participants reported less pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression after four weeks overall quality of life was higher.
Why This Matters for You
This research shows that chiropractic care is about much more than your spine. It can also affect how your brain and nervous system function. That might mean better sleep, clearer thinking, and feeling more balanced overall, alongside the relief of back pain.
In summary
Chiropractic adjustments may help the brain shift into healthier patterns, calm the nervous system, and support better sleep, mood, and energy. In other words, taking care of your spine could also mean taking care of your mind.
References
- Haavik H, Niazi IK, Amjad I, et al. Neuroplastic Responses to Chiropractic Care: Broad Impacts on Pain, Mood, Sleep, and Quality of Life. Brain Sci. 2024;14(11):1124.
- Waterstone TS, Niazi IK, Navid MS, et al. Functional Connectivity Analysis on Resting-State Electroencephalography Signals Following Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Stroke Patients. Brain Sci.2020;10:644.
- Boal RW, Gillette RG. Central neuronal plasticity, low back pain and spinal manipulative therapy. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2004;27:314–326.
- Pickar JG, Bolton PS. Spinal manipulative therapy and somatosensory activation. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2012;22(5):785–794.