When your spine isn’t moving as it should, it can send confusing signals to your brain. These miscommunications may lead to defensive posture, elevated stress hormones, and increased inflammation. This week I want to share a little more about how subluxations can impact overall health and why a regular chiropractic adjustment is a great health ‘assurance’ for you long term.
Understanding Subluxations
Subluxations are areas of the spine where movement is restricted or misaligned. This can irritate spinal nerves, leading to improper nerve function and interference with the signals traveling over those nerves to and from the brain.
1. Defensive Posture
When spinal joints aren’t moving properly, the body may adopt a defensive posture—rounded shoulders, forward head tilt, and a slouched stance. This is the body’s way of protecting itself from perceived threats, but over time, it can lead to muscle imbalances, discomfort, and early wear and tear.
2. Elevated Cortisol Levels
Restricted spinal movement can activate the body’s stress response. Lack of motion in the spine is not taken lightly by the brain, this involves the sympathetic nervous system (fight and flight) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (hormone control centre), leading to the release of stress hormones like cortisol. Chronic activation of this stress response can negatively impact various bodily systems, including the immune and digestive systems. Therefore having a poorly moving spine for too long can have negative consequences on your overall health.
3. Increased Inflammation
Persistent stress and poor posture can contribute to systemic inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or stress, and chronic inflammation is linked to various health issues. By addressing spinal misalignments, it’s possible to reduce stress on the body and potentially decrease inflammation levels.
Chiropractic’s Role
Chiropractic focuses on identifying and correcting subluxations to restore proper spinal movement. By doing so, it aims to improve nerve function, reduce stress responses, and promote overall well-being. While chiropractic adjustments don’t claim to cure specific conditions, they support the body’s natural ability to heal and function optimally.
If you’re experiencing poor posture, heightened stress, or chronic inflammation, then this may be your body prompting you to schedule your next adjustment. Your body has an incredible capacity to heal sometimes it just needs a little support.
With love,
Tom
