The Neurophysiological Mechanism of Chiropractic: Brain-Body Communication and Proprioception

This podcast episode, hosted by Dr. Ekberg, delves into the fundamental neurophysiological principles behind how chiropractic care truly works, moving beyond the common misconception that it's a matter of belief. The core argument is that chiropractic adjustments are not merely about moving bones, but rather about optimizing the brain's ability to receive and process feedback from the body, a process known as proprioception. The brain, as the central control unit, governs all bodily functions—from blood pressure and digestion to hormone regulation and posture—by constantly receiving and responding to a billion bits of proprioceptive information every second. When this feedback is compromised due to improper movement or spinal dysfunction, the brain operates with an inaccurate picture of reality, hindering its capacity for accurate regulation and maintaining homeostasis.

The episode emphasizes a critical distinction: the efficacy of chiropractic lies in its impact on the brain's information processing, not just the physical manipulation itself. When body parts lack a full, smooth range of motion, they fail to signal correctly to the brain, leading to suboptimal management. Chiropractic adjustments are designed to identify areas of less-than-optimal feedback and then improve it by stimulating various receptors, including pressure receptors, motion receptors, joint mechanoreceptors, and muscle spindle cells. This stimulation provides the brain with more precise information, allowing it to form a truer picture of the body's state and perform its regulatory functions more effectively.

Dr. Ekberg explains that the specific technique used for an adjustment—whether a twist/pop, an activator, or a powered adjusting tool like Arthostim—is less important than the underlying goal of stimulating these receptors. All effective chiropractic techniques aim to enhance this sensory input to the brain. Research cited suggests that an adjustment can significantly increase the activity of the frontal lobe by approximately 30%. Given that the frontal lobe is the primary manager of the rest of the body, this increased activation directly translates to improved brain function and, consequently, better overall bodily regulation and health.

In essence, the podcast reframes chiropractic as a science-based approach focused on optimizing the intricate brain-body communication system. It underscores the body's inherent capacity for self-regulation and healing when provided with accurate sensory information. The broader implication is that understanding these physiological mechanisms is key to appreciating how chiropractic contributes to health, promoting a shift from a belief-based perspective to a knowledge-based one, and highlighting the importance of accurate feedback for maintaining optimal physical function and well-being.

it's not whether you believe it or not it's do you understand how it works it's simple physiology it's simple neurophysiology

the brain controls everything about you

the brain receives somewhere on the order of a billion bits of information of proprioception every second

chiropractic is not about moving the bone it's what happens in the brain as a result of moving the bone

if the different body parts are not moving properly... then they're not signaling correctly to the brain and the brain does not have a true picture of reality

when we make an adjustment we're identifying an area that has less than optimal feedback and then we make an adjustment and we improve that feedback

all of it is about stimulating receptors giving the brain more information and based on some research that they've done an adjustment can increase the activity of the frontal lobe by about 30%

the frontal lobe is the main manager of the rest of the body

all chiropractic techniques work some of the time nothing works all of the time