Chiropractic Spinal adjustments do more than relieve back and neck pain —they also help support the body’s immune function and may play a role in preventing illness.
1. Nervous–Immune System “Cross-Talk”
The nervous system and immune system are deeply interconnected. Signals flowing through the brain and spinal cord — via neurotransmitters, hormones, and nerve pathways — help regulate immune responses throughout the body.
Spinal misalignment and dysfunction known as subluxations, inhibit normal nerve communication creating disruption. Since the nervous system plays a key role in coordinating immune activity, these disruptions could influence how effectively the immune system responds to everyday stressors.
Chiropractic adjustments aim to restore proper alignment and movement of the spine (removing subluxations), this helps normalize nerve flow, support clearer communication between the nervous and immune systems, and encourage healthier immune regulation.
2. Reducing Stress — Lowering Immune Suppression
Chronic stress is one of the most well-known suppressors of immune function. When stress levels remain elevated, hormones such as cortisol can weaken aspects of the immune system, making it harder for the body to defend itself.
By improving mobility, reducing muscle tension, and calming overactive areas of the nervous system, chiropractic care helps reduce stress levels. Patients commonly report feeling more relaxed, sleeping better, and experiencing an overall sense of well-being after adjustments.
Because stress reduction is linked to stronger immune performance, improvements in nervous system balance through chiropractic care may offer indirect support for immune health.
3. Potential for Modulating Inflammation and Immune Markers
Some laboratory studies,have observed short-term changes in certain immune system markers following chiropractic adjustments. These changes have included increases in cytokines or antibodies, shifts in white blood cell activity, or temporary reductions in inflammatory mediators.
While more research is needed to determine the long-term significance of these findings, they raise interesting possibilities. If spinal adjustments can influence the body’s inflammatory responses or immune signaling even briefly, they may play a role in supporting the body’s natural defenses.
Such modulation, even if temporary, could reflect the body functioning at a more optimal physiological level.
Putting It All Together
Given the connections between the nervous system and immune system, the ability of chiropractic care to reduce stress, and research suggesting that adjustments may influence certain immune biomarkers, which show chiropractic care can contribute to overall immune health.
Chiropractic adjustments a proper diet and healthy habits, such as exercise, meditation and proper sleep support the body in functioning at its best and its response to stress, inflammation, and daily immune challenges.
Footnotes
- World Federation of Chiropractic. Rapid Review: Effect of Spinal Adjustment/Manipulation on Immunity.
- Nance, D.M., Sanders, V.M. “Autonomic innervation and regulation of the immune system.” Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (2007).
- Chiropractic.org – Articles discussing neuro-immune communication and spinal alignment theory.
- Dynamic Chiropractic – “Immune Responses to Spinal Manipulation.”
- Psychreg – Articles discussing the immune-suppressive effects of chronic stress and cortisol.
- Purpose Driven Chiropractic – Educational content on stress relief and nervous system balance.
- Allwellscoliosis.com – Discussions on posture, tension, and physiological stress relationships.
- S. Teodorczyk-Injeyan et al. “Cytokine response following spinal manipulation.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (2010).
- Path of Life Chiropractic – Immune support concepts related to inflammation and spinal health.
