Chiropractic care is a natural and whole body approach to healthcare that includes many different types of treatments, the most well-known being the chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments, also known as spinal manipulation, is known to be effective in the treatment of many different types of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders. This includes a variety of complaints such as back pain, disc herniations, neck pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, whiplash, sprains, strains, chronic pain and rehabilitation for both post-injury and post-surgical conditions. The mechanism of action from spinal manipulation includes local effects at the level of the joint including muscle reflexes, natural pain suppression or relief, and joint stretching and repositioning.  Chiropractic adjustments also effect the processing centers of the brain, but the exact mechanism of that effect is not well known and is only recently being clarified through research and scientific literature.

A new research article published in the Journal of Brain Sciences makes some headway in describing the brain, or cortical, effects of chiropractic adjustments in helping people with MSK pain and dysfunction. In this exciting study the research team looked at the effects of spinal manipulation on brain activity, comparing it to sham treatments in the control group. They found that people receiving spinal adjustments from an experienced chiropractor had increased cortical activity. This leads to increased signal strength received by muscles stimulated to action by nerve roots traveling from the brain, through the spine, and ending on their target muscle groups. The researchers found that the brain signal strength in the group treated by chiropractic manipulation was 50% higher than the group that was not treated by spinal manipulation. This means that people receiving a chiropractic adjustment had more muscle fiber recruitment leading to increased muscle strength post-treatment than the group receiving no treatment. This is exciting evidence that points to the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments in treating patients suffering from muscle weakness and imbalances.

As new and interesting articles such as this one are published, our understanding of musculoskeletal conditions grows ever larger, helping us better understand our patients and better help them manage their health. We here at Excellence in Health Chiropractic are dedicated to studying and incorporating cutting-edge research into our personalized treatment plans for our patients so that they receive the best possible healthcare offered. We look forward to serving your healthcare needs and continuing to be a leader in healthcare. Take charge of your health and get back to living the life you deserve; and as always, we wish you excellence in health.

Resources:

• Haavik, H. Niazi, I. Jochumsen, M. Sherwin, D. Flavel, S. Turker, K. (2017). Impact of Spinal Manipulation on Cortical Drive to Upper and Lower Limb Muscles. Journal of Brain Sciences, 7(2): 1-15.

Link to Abstract:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28025