What Actually Happens in Your Brain During a Chiropractic Adjustment? 

If you’ve ever had a chiropractic adjustment, you might think it’s all about joints, bones, and that satisfying “click.” 

But the real story? 

It’s happening in your brain… 

Let’s break down what modern neuroscience tells us – because chiropractic care is far less about “putting things back in” and far more about changing how your nervous system functions. 

Your Brain Is Running the Show 

Your spine is packed with sensory receptors that constantly send information to your brain about movement, position, and tension – this is called proprioception. 

When joints aren’t moving well (what we often call dysfunction), that input becomes noisy, distorted, or reduced. 

Research by Haavik, Niazi and colleagues shows that spinal adjustments can change how the brain processes this sensory information, particularly in areas like the cortex and cerebellum.  

In simple terms: 

An adjustment doesn’t just affect the spine – it updates the brain’s map of the body. 

Cortical Changes: Rewiring the Brain 

Studies using EEG and brain imaging (including sLORETA) have shown that spinal manipulation can alter activity in the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain involved in: 

• Movement planning. 
• Pain perception. 
• Decision-making. 

One study found measurable changes in how the brain processes pain after an adjustment.  

Even more interesting? 

Adjustments have been shown to increase “cortical drive” to muscles, meaning the brain communicates more effectively with the body.  

This may explain why patients often feel: 

• Stronger. 
• More coordinated. 
• “Lighter” or more in control. 

Cerebellum: Your Movement GPS 

The cerebellum is your body’s coordination centre – it fine-tunes movement and your balance. 

When spinal joints aren’t moving properly, your cerebellum receives less accurate input. 

Chiropractic adjustments appear to restore and enhance this input, improving sensorimotor integration (how your brain and body work together).  

 Think of it like recalibrating your internal GPS. 

Muscle Tone & Strength: Not Just Mechanical 

One of the most fascinating findings? 

Spinal adjustments can change muscle function almost instantly. 

Research has shown: 

• Increased muscle strength (e.g., bite force studies and general strength too). 
• Altered motor neuron excitability. 
• Improved coordination. 

These changes aren’t coming from the muscles themselves – they’re coming from your brain’s control over those muscles. 

In other words: 

We’re not just treating tissue – we’re influencing your nervous system controlling it. 

What About the “Pop”? 

Let’s clear this up. 

That clicking sound during an adjustment is not bones cracking. 

It’s a process called tribonucleation – where gas rapidly forms a bubble inside the joint due to pressure changes. 

• It’s similar to opening a vacuum-sealed jar. 
• It’s safe and well-studied. 
• And importantly… it’s not the treatment itself! 

The benefit comes from the neurological response, not the noise. 

So Is Pain Really “In the Brain”? 

Short answer: yes – but not in the way people think. 

Pain is an output of the brain, influenced by: 

• Sensory input (from your body). 
• Past experiences. 
• Stress and emotions. 
• Context and environment.  

Chronic pain in particular is often linked to changes in central processing (sometimes called central sensitisation). 

Research suggests chiropractic care may help by: 

• Improving sensory input from the spine. 
• Modulating how the brain processes pain. 
• Enhancing overall nervous system function.  

So, when we adjust the spine, we’re not just chasing symptoms – we’re changing the input that drives pain itself. 

The Big Takeaway 

A chiropractic adjustment is not just a mechanical event. 

It’s a neurological reset. 

• It improves how your brain perceives your body. 
• It enhances communication between your brain, muscles, ligaments and joints.  
• It may reduce pain by changing central processing. 

And perhaps most importantly… 

It helps your body function the way it was designed to. 

If you want to find out more, get in touch with one of our chiropractors to see if we can help you.  

With love,  Sophie