Pioneers of chiropractic and chiropractors have always maintained that spinal dysfunction has a negative impact on general health. How is this possible that the spine has an affect the heart or lungs? The classic explanation form most chiropractors are: a bone is compressing a nerve, cutting off its energy or nerve supply to vital organs in the body. Although many in the profession will still swaer by this explanation, research tells us otherwise. If you read the previous pinched nerve catagory, you know otherwise. If you haven’t yet, please read it.

The key to understanding the global pathological effects of spinal biomechanical abberancies lies in understanding that alterations in normal spinal biomechanics has inherent consequences on the nervous system. In addition to the obvious consequences of degeneration and changes in muscle tone, when a spinal joint is dyskinetic, there is a loss of proprioceptive feedback from that level into the central nervous system. As a result, there is an increase of nociceptive input reaching the central nervous system (mostly at occuring at a subconcious level).

Nociceptive bombardment can lead to peripheral and central sensitization of the nociceptive pathways via synaptogenesis and neuroplasticity. This sensitization process results in changes of the central integrated state of the neurons (i.e. lowered firing thresholds) has been documented to lead to allodynia. It is important to keep in mind that increased nociceptive input DOES NOT necessarily mean increase in pain. Nociception is is the detection of noxious stimuli or stressors, pain is the cortical emotional response to nociception.

When the body experiences increased nociception, it responds accordingly by activating the stress response and its associated stress hormones epinephrine/norepinephrine and cortisol. We all know what happens during a stress response (increased heart rate, blood pressure, changes in breathing etc.) While these are all normal physiological changes, and are changes we want to occur if we are being chased by a tiger, we do not want these changes taking place while we are at rest.

The brain is driven by proprioceptive input from the body. What would happen if proprioception from facet joints that fire directly into the cerebellum were altered, as previously discussed? Could cerebellar dysafferentation lead to improper homeostatic coordination of movement and/or balance. Recent research has shown the influence of the cerebellum on visceral function. If the central integrated state of the cerebellum is altered via spinal dysafferentation, how can the cerebellum optimally control visceral functions?

One explanation as to why chiropractors for so long have preached that chiropractic can lead to improved general health is that chiropractic care works to restore normal spinal biomechanics. Improved spinal biomechanics means improved neurophysiological function, which means a restoration in proprioception and decrease in nociception. Decreased nociception means a decrease in the stress response. Studies in the field of psychoneuroimmunology tells us the effect that chronically high levels of stress has on the immune system.

Chiropractic is based on the now scietifically proven fact that proper structure of the spine is required for normal neurophysiology as it relate to the control and regulation of global physiology and health.