The spine is much more than just a structure that helps us stand more erect and protects the spinal cord. Roger Sperry, a Nobel prize winner on brain research, said,
90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by movement of the spine!
DID YOU HEAR THAT…. the spine and structure of the body have 90% of the connections to the brain and nervous system. That is why we take care of the “whole person” with Max Living instead of the reductionist viewpoint of picking out just a diseased organ or area of pain like the medical approach.
The Subluxation – Stress Response Connection
The bottom line is that research has shown that a vertebral subluxation creates a stress that causes an increased tone in the sympathetic nervous system. We now know that an increased sympathetic tone in the nervous system sets off a cascade of autonomic processes as if the body was being attacked.
This interference or imbalance leads to what we know to be the “fight or flight” response. Here is the thing… it is a good response that helps you in a dangerous situation, but will literally kill you chronically. What I mean by that is in the short-term situation it is good; however, if it stays there long term, it will destroy the body.
This increase in sympathetic tone increases stress hormones known as catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) and decreases relaxing hormones such as serotonin and relaxin. Like I said, this is good for a short time to help you fight or flee from a predator, but when it is sustained for a long duration it destroys the body. From decreased immunity and digestion to shutting down fertility, focus, attention, and energy…. this state of dysfunction is not what any healthy human should experience for any sustained period of time.
This also affects how your body will adapt to stress in the future and the more interference there is from Subluxation between the brain and the body, the more difficult it is for your body to adapt to what is going on around you.
Spinal Damage Happens To Everybody
The problem is that everything we do causes interference and damage to the spine.
- Most people sit at least 1-2 hours a day and a majority as high as 8-12 hours of constant stress and pressure on the spine.
- Almost all of us have had some type of sports injury, fall, or motor vehicle accident that caused significant damage to the body.
Do you think that that kind of force could potentially shift something out of alignment in the spine?
A few months ago I talked about how stress affects the spine and actually causes subluxation and breakdown of the nervous system. With chiropractic corrective care we are not only correcting subluxation, we are also increasing brain function and nervous system communication throughout the body.
Chiropractic Spinal Adjustment Improves Brain Activity
The research shows that when we adjust the spine, we significantly increase activity in the prefrontal cortex. It changes activity by 20% just by adjusting. An effect on the function of the prefrontal cortex could explain many previous research results, such as:
- improvements in sensorimotor function relevant to falls-prevention
- better joint-position sense in both the upper limb and the lower limb
- improved muscle strength in lower limb muscles
- better pelvic floor control
- better ability to carry out mental rotation of objects.
This happens with every vertebral subluxation because of its influence on the central nervous system.
In a time where the average person is under more stresses than ever and it is more difficult to stay healthy and adapt, this way of living is more important than ever. We understand the value of a healthy lifestyle and the devastation of stress and interference in the Nervous System.
This is why we take subluxation so seriously, and why the health and proper movement of your spine is essential to health for the rest of your life. If there was one thing you could do to improve your quality or life for you and your family, while preventing chronic health concerns, would you want to know?
I believe everyone deserves to know the dangers of subluxation and deserves to have the opportunity at a health solution. There is an answer and there is hope!