Unlocking the Power of Chiropractic Adjustments: A Dive into Science and Wellness

Chiropractic adjustments have long been a go-to for those seeking relief from back pain, neck stiffness, or general musculoskeletal discomfort. But what if I told you that these precise manipulations do more than just "crack" your back? Emerging research reveals that chiropractic care, particularly high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrusts, influences the brain's wiring, neurochemical balance, and even pain perception. In this blog, we'll explore the science behind chiropractic adjustments, drawing on pioneering work from researcher Heidi Haavik, and uncover how these techniques connect to brain function, neurochemistry like dopamine, and lasting pain relief.

What Are Chiropractic Adjustments, and Why Focus on HVLA?

At its core, a chiropractic adjustment is a manual therapy where a trained practitioner applies controlled force to specific joints, often in the spine, to improve mobility, reduce restrictions, and restore proper function. The most common technique is the HVLA thrust—a quick, targeted movement with minimal force that often produces that familiar "pop" sound from gas bubbles in the joint fluid.

Research highlights HVLA as particularly effective for conditions like low back pain and neck issues. A narrative review explains that HVLA thrusts enhance proprioceptive processing in the prefrontal cortex, improving how the brain coordinates body awareness and movement. This isn't just about physical alignment; it's about signaling the nervous system to recalibrate, leading to broader health benefits.

Heidi Haavik: Pioneering the Brain-Chiropractic Connection

Dr. Heidi Haavik, a chiropractor with a PhD in human neurophysiology, has been at the forefront of this research. As Vice President of Research at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, Haavik's studies use advanced tools like EEG and TMS to show how adjustments spark neuroplastic changes—essentially rewiring the brain for better function.

In her book, *The Reality Check: A Quest to Understand Chiropractic from the Inside Out*, Haavik demystifies these effects in accessible language. She explains that when a chiropractor adjusts dysfunctional spinal segments (known as subluxations), it bombards the brain with sensory input, updating outdated "body maps" that can contribute to pain or poor coordination. The book emphasizes that these adjustments don't just fix the spine; they enhance how the brain perceives and controls the body, potentially improving everything from posture to emotional well-being.

Haavik's recent work, including a 2024 study on neuroplastic responses, demonstrates that chiropractic care alters brain activity in ways that reduce pain, boost mood, and enhance sleep quality. For instance, after sessions of HVLA adjustments, participants showed changes in EEG patterns, indicating heightened alertness and reduced anxiety.

How Adjustments Link to the Brain

The spine is a highway for nerve signals between the body and brain. When spinal segments are misaligned or dysfunctional, they send distorted signals, leading to maladaptive neuroplasticity—negative changes in brain wiring that can amplify pain or impair function.

Haavik's research shows that HVLA adjustments correct this by stimulating mechanoreceptors in spinal tissues, flooding the brain with accurate sensory data. This affects key areas like the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which handles executive functions, pain processing, and emotional regulation. Studies reveal up to a 20% increase in PFC activity post-adjustment, improving joint position sense, muscle strength, and even mental rotation tasks.

Other brain regions benefit too: Adjustments enhance cerebellar-motor cortex inhibition, aiding motor learning and reducing inhibition in those with subclinical neck pain. In chronic pain sufferers, this can reverse widespread CNS changes, such as altered functional connectivity in the pain matrix (including the amygdala, insula, and cingulate cortex).

Neurochemistry: The Role of Dopamine and Beyond

Chiropractic adjustments don't stop at structural changes—they influence the body's chemical messengers. By modulating the autonomic nervous system, adjustments shift from sympathetic "fight-or-flight" dominance to parasympathetic "rest-and-digest" balance, reducing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

Dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter tied to reward, motivation, and pain modulation, enters the picture here. Chronic stress and pain can deplete dopamine, contributing to depression and heightened pain sensitivity. Haavik's findings suggest adjustments recalibrate brain chemistry, potentially boosting dopamine release through PFC activation and stress reduction. One study on major depression links spinal manipulation to increased dopamine via neurotrophic factors like BDNF, which support dopaminergic neurons.

Patients often report a post-adjustment "euphoric" or "tipsy" feeling, attributed to a surge in dopamine and other endorphins. Broader neurochemical shifts include elevated oxytocin (for bonding and anti-inflammation), reduced substance P (a pain transmitter), and balanced cytokines, all contributing to mood lifts and pain relief.

Decreasing Pain: From Brain Changes to Real Relief

Pain isn't just a local sensation—it's constructed in the brain. Chronic pain often stems from faulty brain maps where perceived threat outlasts actual tissue damage. Chiropractic adjustments address this by enhancing conditioned pain modulation (CPM), where the brain inhibits pain signals from the periphery.

Haavik's trials show that after adjustments, participants experience less pain intensity and interference, with EEG changes indicating reduced theta waves (linked to stress) and increased gamma waves (for focus and creativity). A 2021 study on stroke survivors found four weeks of care led to significant pain reductions, tied to cortical excitability increases.

Dopamine plays a key role in this: Higher levels dampen pain perception by modulating the brain's reward-pain pathways. Combined with oxytocin and serotonin boosts, this creates a neurochemical cascade that not only eases pain but also combats associated issues like fatigue and depression. Research confirms HVLA thrusts lower pressure pain thresholds and alter pain-related brain activity, offering relief without drugs.

Benefit --> Mechanism --> [Supporting Research Example]

• Pain Reduction --> Alters PFC pain processing; enhances CPM --> [Haavik et al. (2024): Reduced pain intensity post-adjustments.]

• Mood Improvement --> Boosts dopamine/serotonin via stress reduction --> [Linked to PFC changes; depression symptoms decrease.]

• Better Sleep --> Balances neurochemistry; reduces anxiety --> [Increased REM sleep in trials.]

Wrapping Up: Why Chiropractic Could Be Your Brain's Best Friend

Chiropractic adjustments, especially HVLA techniques, offer more than temporary fixes—they foster profound brain and neurochemical shifts for sustained wellness. Thanks to Heidi Haavik's groundbreaking research and her insightful book, we now understand how these adjustments update brain maps, balance chemicals like dopamine, and turn down the volume on pain. If things work and you feel better, there must be a reason. There is still a lot of research that needs to be done to help explain all the benefits that you feel after a chiropractic treatment. Research and science need to advance to explain the benefits. If you're dealing with chronic discomfort or just want to optimize your health, reach out to Leap Chiropractic. It could unlock benefits that ripple through your entire nervous system. Remember, pain doesn't have to be permanent—sometimes, a simple adjustment is all it takes to reset and thrive.

Dr. Elbert Chao

Leap Chiropractic