Chiropractic Adjustments Enhance Signals from the Brain to the Body

The brain is the master control system for the entire body. It sends and receives a complicated frequency of signals with the body that dictate the function of the body. 

How can chiropractors help the brain work better?

When there is interference from the brain to the rest of the body and back (neurological feedback loop), it alters the environment the brain perceives itself to be in.  This changes the adaptation process the brain orchestrates throughout the body to relate how the body is moving in the environment. 

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to enhance the sensorimotor integration of the brain with the body. Many experts have hypothesized that increased stress cycles in the body produce the environment for dis-ease and eventually disease within the body. 

Stress can come from a variety of sources in the mental/emotional form, chemical form, and physical realm. When the body is under increased stress it responds by increasing its sympathetic tone. This means the body shunts itself into "fight or flight" survival based mode by altering cardiovascular & endocrine function to get itself ready for dynamic activity.

What does being in sympathetic tone mean?

Increased sympathetic tone causes a release of stress hormones such as adrenalin, epinephrine, and cortisol. 

Adrenalin: This hormone triggers blood vessels to contract toward major muscle groups in order to run if needed. It also pumps more blood to the heart and lungs

Epinephrine: It helps control metabolism, attention, mental focus, panic and excitement.  It is released from your adrenal glands over your kidneys.


Cortisol: This is considered the "main stress hormone".  It increases glucose into the bloodstream. This would give your body the boost of energy it needs in a stressful situation but the body will become stressed and inflamed. 

Being in sympathetic mode can be okay for a short period of time; however, when the stress lasts longer than expected it exhausts the body and causes a state of dis-ease to manifest. 

When the brain sends information to the organs, muscles, and tissues of the body, this is called efferent neurological flow. In return, the afferent flow of information includes all the messages sent to the brain from skin, muscle, joint, and organ receptors. This afferent/efferent neurological loop is how the body is able to respond and adapt appropriately to its environment. 

The ramifications of increased stress hormones in the body include overworked adrenal glands, lowered immunity, decreased digestive functions, fatigue, & blood pressure disturbances. Increased cortisol levels also cause ligament laxity by stripping critical proteins from the tendon and ligament structures. 

This long term stress response causes joint weakness throughout the body, including the spine and extremities, making them much more susceptible to injury. The body is more at risk of a subluxation.

What is a subluxation?

Subluxation is a term used to describe mechanical compression and irritation to spinal joints and nerves. Subluxation scrambles the neurological feedback loop by causing altered rhythms of neurological flow. 

How are subluxations caused?

  • Trauma
  • Poor posture
  • Chemical stressors
  • Emotional stressors
  • Physical stressors

    Subluxations are a physical reactions to stress on the body and increase the sympathetic tone, so the body shunts its energy toward the fight or flight system.

    If the subluxation(s) are not corrected they continue to produce this increased stress response. This increases cortisol and causes greater joint & ligament laxity in the spine and extremities making them more susceptible to injury. Additionally, increased long-term stress on the body greatly accelerates the degenerative processes of the spine and joints leading to osteoarthritis.

    How does Chiropractic help with Sympathetic tone?

    Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to normalize spinal afferent/efferent processes to their proper resting tone. This is like hitting the reset button on the computer when it is malfunctioning. The computer is allowed to pause and reprocess itself.

    Chiropractic adjustments stop the stress response and restore normal hormonal and cardiovascular function to the body. This allows the body to reset itself and begin healing the damage that was done in the body due to chronic stress cycles.

    Research performed by Taylor and Murphy demonstrated that chiropractic adjustments enhanced sensorimotor integration, the body's ability to sense where it is in space and effectively coordinate complex movement patterns. This improves function in both the brain and the body. Improved spatial intelligence translates into better physical and mental balance, coordination, and mobility. Chiropractic adjustments make you think and move with better speed, skill, and finesse.

    Dr. Amie Gregory, DC, CCEP, ANF is a San Francisco, CA and San Carlos, CA chiropractor that understands full body health. She works with athletes, expectant moms, office workers and everyone else in between. Contact our San Francisco, CA chiropractic office or San Carlos, CA chiropractic office today!

    References: https://www.alpineclinicofchiropractic.com/2010/09/balance-and-movemen... Taylor H, Murphy B. Cervical Spine Manipulation Alters Sensorimotor Integration: A Somatosensory evoked potential study. Clin Neurophysiol; 2007;118:391-402 Taylor, H, Murphy B. Altered Sensorimotor Integration with Cervical Spine Manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther; 2008;31:115-126 Learn more:https://www.naturalnews.com/031134_chiropractic_brain_health.html#ixzz1rQEf7xmg


Location

Find us on the map - Please click desired location below

24 hour Scheduling makes it easy!

(Hours may change due to doctor availability)

Hours in the mission district, San Francisco

Monday

8-12pm

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

3-6PM

Thursday

8-12PM

Friday

3-8PM

Saturday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Hours in the mission district, San Francisco

Monday
8-12pm
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
3-6PM
Thursday
8-12PM
Friday
3-8PM
Saturday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sunday
Closed