By Dr. Dean Bortolon, Chiropractor, OCP Co-director

Studies have shown that movement can help people with depression, anxiety and other brain-based diseases. Movement has been shown to change the structure of the brain, improve your concentration and reaction time.

A recent article by researchers Drs. Haavik and Holt tell us that it’s not just physical activity that’s important for the brain, but how movement of the spine is also very important for brain health. Our spines basically need to do three things: spinal bones need to move together in order to spread and absorb impact forces that are made when we move and give us the ability to reach, bend and twist. Also, we want our spines to stiffen up to protect our nervous system when we lift heavy objects. Thirdly, we need our brains to reflexively switch on and off the correct spinal muscles quickly so that we can maintain our balance. This is all accomplished by our brains ability to coordinate and respond to information that it gathers from sensory nerves in the spine itself and throughout the joints of the upper and lower extremities. When we move, tracts in our spinal cords provide the primary input to certain areas of our brains, relaying important information as nerve impulses.

Scientists have shown that chiropractic adjustments can have a dramatic effect on how well your spine moves. Studies have also shown that chiropractic adjustments can help your brain process the information from the joints of your spine and limbs called proprioception. Spinal function seems to be a factor that our brains use to help process and integrate information from our environment. This is why chiropractors are interested in making sure your spine is functioning properly. We believe that spinal function affects the way our brains control our movement.

Make sure your brain is getting the stimulation it needs to stay healthy. See your Chiropractor so we can help you keep your spine moving the best that it can. Between your adjustments, it’s crucial to stay active and move! We are fortunate to live in a place that offers so many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors all year round.