Chiro Therapy and its Benefits in the Somatic Nervous System
Main points:
- The somatic nervous system is a component of the peripheral nervous system, the body-wide nerve network that exists outside the brain and spinal cord.
- Improved motor function is possible thanks to enhanced nerve communication.
- Chiropractic care fixes these alignment problems. When your spine is properly aligned, your nerves can do their job without interference.
Are you experiencing muscle weakness, coordination problems, unusual pain, or numbness? These symptoms can be abnormalities in the somatic nervous system, and if not immediately addressed, can have a negative impact on simple daily activities. Consequently, this can ruin your overall health and well-being.
The good news is that all isn’t lost if you encounter somatic nervous system issues, thanks to holistic approaches like chiro therapy.
Read on to find out more.
What is the somatic nervous system?
The somatic nervous system is an integral part of the peripheral nervous system, which is a network of the nerves that extends throughout your body and not just within your brain and spinal cord. It handles two primary tasks: controlling voluntary movements and processing sensory information.
The Network of Nerves
Your somatic nervous system includes:
- 12 pairs of cranial nerves that connect directly to your brain, controlling functions in your head, neck, and some internal organs
- 31 pairs of spinal nerves that branch out from your spinal cord to reach the rest of your body
These nerves work together to keep you connected to your environment and able to respond to it.
How does spinal alignment affect the somatic nerves?
Spinal misalignment or spinal subluxation can have a negative impact on the somatic nerves by disrupting normal blood flow of nerve signals in several ways.
- Pressure on nerve roots
- Reduced nerve communication
- Localized inflammation
Pressure on nerve roots.
This occurs when misaligned vertebrae compress the nerves as they exit the spinal column. This compression can slow down or distort the signals traveling through those nerves, affecting both motor function (your ability to move) and sensory function (your ability to feel).
Reduced nerve communication.
This means your brain might not receive accurate information from your body, or your muscles might not get clear instructions from your brain. This breakdown in communication can cause the motor and sensory symptoms associated with somatic nervous system problems.
Localized inflammation
Here, inflammation around misaligned joints or joint subluxations can further irritate nearby nerves, adding to the interference and creating additional pain signals.
What are the benefits of chiro therapy in the somatic nervous system?
Chiro therapy benefits the somatic nervous system by improving nerve communication, which leads to improved motor function, enhanced muscle strength, increased range of motion, and improved proprioception.
Improved motor function
Improved motor function is possible thanks to enhanced nerve communication. Your nervous system needs constant back-and-forth messages between your brain and body to keep you balanced and moving smoothly.
Chiro adjustments help fix this communication, making your movements smoother and reducing coordination issues.
Enhanced muscle strength
Stronger muscles happen when nerve signals can travel freely from your brain to your muscles. When a chiropractor adjusts your spine and takes pressure off squeezed nerves, your muscles get clearer instructions. This can help bring back strength in areas that felt weak.
Increased range of motion
Increased range of motion takes place when spinal adjustments fix stiff joints in your spine and reduce nerve problems. When nerves work right, your muscles can tighten and relax the way they should, letting you move more freely with less stiffness.
Improved proprioception
Improved proprioception or awareness of the position and movement of the body improves when the nerves that tell your brain about body position can send accurate information. This helps with everyday things like walking on bumpy ground, reaching for items, or standing up straight without thinking about it.
Reduced muscle tension
Chiro therapy addresses muscle tension by helping the muscle relax. This is possible thanks to the following:
- Taking pressure off nerves allows them to function normally. Compressed or pinched nerves don’t just cause pain, they disrupt the normal communication between your brain and muscles. When adjustments create more space for nerves and remove pressure, the garbled signals stop, and muscles receive clear instructions to relax.
- Breaking the pain-tension cycle happens when adjustments reduce pain in the affected area. When pain decreases, your body no longer needs to guard the area with muscle tension. This breaks the vicious cycle where pain causes tension, which causes more pain, which causes more tension.
- Reducing inflammation around joints and nerves helps calm the entire area. Chiropractic adjustments can help reduce local inflammation, which means less irritation to both nerves and surrounding muscles. Less inflammation means less reason for muscles to stay tense.
What somatic nervous system conditions respond well to chiro therapy
Chiro therapy has made a name for itself for treating musculoskeletal conditions that are related to the somatic nervous systems. They include the following:
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Neuropathy
Low back pain
Chiro care uses spinal adjustments and movement techniques on your lower back to improve how your joints move, reduce muscle tightness and cramping, and change the pain signals being sent from problem areas to your brain.
Neck pain
Chiro treatment for neck pain uses adjustments or gentle joint movements, muscle work, and exercises to restore normal neck movement, ease muscle spasms, and reduce tissue strain. These adjustments stimulate nerve receptors in your joints and muscles, affecting how your nervous system processes pain signals, which can reduce discomfort and improve mobility.
Neuropathy
Chiro care focuses on optimizing spinal alignment and nerve function, which can help people with neuropathy in several ways:
- Reduces nerve compression. Spinal adjustments take pressure off pinched nerve roots, creating more space for nerves to function and potentially reducing numbness, tingling, and pain.
- Improves nerve blood flow. Proper alignment restores circulation to nerve tissues, supporting better nerve health and potentially slowing neuropathy progression.
- Decreases inflammation. Correcting misalignments reduces local inflammation irritating nerves, creating a healthier environment for nerve function.
Address somatic nervous system issues with chiro therapy
Your somatic nervous system controls how you move and feel. When your spine isn’t aligned properly, it disrupts the signals between your brain and body. This can cause weakness, pain, numbness, and trouble with coordination.
Chiropractic care fixes these alignment problems. When your spine is properly aligned, your nerves can do their job without interference. This means you can move better, hurt less, and feel more like yourself again.
So book an appointment at Posture Perfect Chiropractic. Our experienced and knowledgeable doctors of chiro will check your spine, figure out what’s causing your symptoms, and create a treatment plan that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractic adjustments improve nerve function?
Yes. Chiropractic adjustments help restore proper spinal alignment, remove pressure on nerves, and improve the flow of nerve signals. This enhances motor control, muscle strength, and overall body coordination.
Are chiropractic treatments safe for the nervous system?
When performed by a licensed chiropractor, spinal adjustments are considered safe and noninvasive. They gently guide misaligned vertebrae back into place to restore normal nerve function without surgery or medication.
How can I tell if my somatic nervous system is affected by spinal misalignment?
If you experience constant back or neck pain, tingling sensations, muscle weakness, or coordination issues, those may be signs that your spine is interfering with normal nerve function. A chiropractic assessment can help determine the cause.
