Some of the most interesting chiropractic research out there focuses not just on the musculoskeletal effects of getting adjusted, but effects on the neurology of the body, and even the emotional brain as well. Studies have been done to quantify what chiropractic patients have reported for years: that they feel more relaxed, calm, emotionally well-adjusted after chiropractic care.

In one such study, community college students were exposed to a fear engendering stimulus, creating a phobic reaction, and then muscle-tested to see what spinal segment was linked to the fear response.

Next, the students were exposed to the fear stimulus while an adjustment was given to the linked area of the spine. After the adjustment, students were again exposed to the fear stimulus, and they reported a significant decrease in the intensity of the fear they experienced.

Another case study describes a 52 year old woman with chronic panic attacks. She had been taking antidepressants and tranquilizers and receiving counseling and relaxation training, none of which had worked.

She began chiropractic care and immediately noticed an improvement. During an attack, her blood pressure was measured at 180/102 and her pulse rate at 120 beats per minute. She had an adjustment and within 4 minutes her blood pressure had dropped to 140/80 and her pulse to 76. At the time of the report, she had been free of panic attacks for 2 months, “the best she has been in years,” according to the study.

If you know someone who suffers with anxiety and/or panic attacks, and they haven’t had their spine evaluated within the last six months, schedule them an appointment with their Kennesaw chiropractor today!

Peterson, K.B. 1997. The effects of spinal manipulation on the intensity of emotional arousal in phobic subjects exposed to a threat

stimulus: a randomized, controlled, double blind clinical trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 20(9):602-6.

Potthoff, S., B. Penwell, and J. Wolf. 1993. Panic attacks and the chiropractic adjustment: a case report. American Chiropractic

Association Journal of Chiropractic 30(Dec):26-28.