A 2004 study in the Journal Neuroscience gives us insight on the effect of chronic back pain and its effects on brain activity. Scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago used MRI scans to compare the brains of 26 individuals with chronic back pain (CBP) with that of the brains of 26 pain free control subjects. The study revealed that CBP patients had 5-11% less neocortical gray matter volume than control subjects. According to scientist, this decrease in gray matter is equivalent to 10-20 years of normal aging. Gray matter is the vital part of the brain that processes information and memory.
On the brighter side, evidence is showing that Chiropractic adjustments seem to play a role in increasing brain function. One experiment in New Zealand included 36 subjects with evidence of vertebral subluxations in the upper neck. Subluxations are areas in the spine where nerves are malfunctioning because the spinal bones are out of place or not moving properly. If allowed to persist, the subluxations can lead to various health problems in addition to decreased mental acuity. After performing a series of cognitive tests, a group of the participants received chiropractic adjustments while the control group did not. Afterwards, all participants were asked to repeat the cognitive tasks. The study revealed that the group receiving chiropractic adjustments showed 15% improvement in reaction time of the cognitive tasks while the control group having no adjustments only showed 8% improvement. This study gives evidence that neck adjustments may improve cognitive processing in the brain.
Typically, Chiropractors have been known as the back pain specialist. Although these studies reveal how the brain can be affected by pain, the benefits of Chiropractic care go beyond pain relief. While additional research is needed before a firm link is established, the current preponderance of evidence demonstrates that chiropractic adjustments may indeed improve cognitive function. Make a smart move; call our office at (858)558-0057 to schedule an appointment for a chiropractic evaluation today.