Chiropractic and Your Brain
A new study titled “Neuroplastic Responses to Chiropractic Care: Broad Impacts on Pain, Mood, Sleep, and Quality of Life” published in November of 2024 in the journal “Brain Sciences” investigated the effects of Chiropractic care in patients with chronic low back pain, and it’s effects on brain function. By utilizing various methods of measuring brain activity, the researchers were able to uncover a broad range of positive brain associated outcomes in a population of patients receiving Chiropractic care.
About the Author
One of the lead authors of the study was Dr. Heidi Haavik of New Zealand. Dr. Haavik is a Chiropractor and also has a PhD in Neuroscience. She has published numerous papers exploring the relationship between Chiropractic and the nervous system. Her past studies have elucidated groundbreaking relationships between the Chiropractic adjustment and what occurs in your brain in the hours and days after you are adjusted.
The Study
This study explored how chiropractic care affects the brain and overall health in people with chronic low back pain. Researchers measured brain activity, physical health, and well-being using various tools like EEG (to monitor brain waves), somatosensory evoked potentials (to measure nerve response), and Fitbit data (to track physical activity and sleep). The study involved 76 people, who were divided into two groups: one received chiropractic care, and the other did not.
What Did The Study Find
The results showed that chiropractic care led to positive changes in brain activity, including improvements in areas linked to relaxation, focus, and overall brain function. Additionally, people who received chiropractic care had better sleep, less pain, and lower levels of anxiety, depression, and fatigue after four weeks. They also reported an overall better quality of life.
What Does This Mean For You, The Patient?
The key benefit of chiropractic care revealed by this study is that it appears to improve brain function, which in turn helps reduce pain and stress, promotes better sleep, and enhances overall well-being. This implies that chiropractic care may not only help with back pain but also improve mental health, energy levels, and sleep quality, contributing to a healthier and more balanced life.
While the study was limited in it’s scope, the results lend more to the growing body of evidence that Chiropractic may have significant effects on the Central Nervous system than we previously thought.
