Activate Your Practice Podcast What Happens When We Listen to the Spine-Brain Connection?
The connection between your spine and brain is far more profound than conventional medicine has recognized. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Heidi Haavik, Director of Research at New Zealand College of Chiropractic, shares revolutionary findings from 24 years of neuroscience research that completely transform our understanding of how chiropractic care works.
Forget what you thought you knew about chiropractic. Those old theories about "relieving pressure from pinched nerves" have given way to a sophisticated brain-centered model. Dr. Haavik's research team has consistently demonstrated that spinal adjustments directly change brain function, regardless of where along the spine the adjustment occurs. "We had to really rethink the entire model," she explains, "because it doesn't seem to be the nerve roots, but we're directly changing the brain when we're adjusting subluxated segments."
The mechanism? High-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts (whether from Activator instruments or manual techniques) stretch deep spinal muscles that have become atrophied around dysfunctional segments. These muscles play a crucial role in proprioception - your brain's awareness of body position. When they're not communicating properly, your brain operates on an incomplete "story" about what's happening in your body, potentially leading to countless downstream effects.
This explains why chiropractic benefits extend far beyond pain relief. Recent clinical trials reveal improvements in fatigue, anxiety, depression, and even how the brain processes sensory information like sound and visual input. Perhaps most remarkable are multiple studies showing significant rehabilitation benefits for chronic stroke survivors - an ironic development for a profession once wrongly accused of causing strokes.
For those considering chiropractic care, Dr. Haavik recommends at least three months of consistent visits. "Some of the neuroplastic brain changes don't necessarily show up straight away," she notes. "Some change immediately, but some you only see at about 12 weeks." Looking ahead, she's excited about emerging technologies that will make neurological assessment more accessible in chiropractic offices, along with big data initiatives that will better identify which populations benefit most from care.
Want to understand how your spine influences your brain and overall health? This conversation illuminates the science behind what chiropractors have observed clinically for decades - that spinal care influences far more than just back pain.