WHAT CHIROPRACTIC “TREATS”- THE SCIENCE

Dr Heidi Haavik PhD, has a Neuroscience degree from Auckland University, which was completed after graduation from the NZ Chiropractic School, where she is the Director of Research. Heidi has devoted her research to scientific investigation of what chiropractic care does to the brain and spine.

For more than a decade, Heidi’s published research is nothing short of groundbreaking. It has established that when the spine does not move properly because of tight muscles, the brain has difficulty sensing “seeing” what is happening in the spine, arms and legs. Abnormal spinal movement impairs the brain’s ability to control the spine. All this means Chiropractic care can reduce being clumsy! (Imagine the benefits for the elderly in the prevention of falls, which can sometimes be fatal.) Several studies have shown that the brain become more aware of what the arms and legs are doing even when the eyes are shut!

Abnormal spinal movement is not limited to the function of the arms and legs, it also affects how the brain perceives and responds to ALL other sensory information. It’s a lot like having a brain software glitch- faulty body electronics can have a vast influence on general health. Throughout life, the brain is able to adapt to its ever-changing environment, regardless of age!

So chiropractic, which is well-established to be good for pain, is not limited to being just a pain-killer. Having Chiropractic care just for pain relief is a lot like robbing a bank and only stealing the pens! Sir Winston Churchill once observed that many of us stumble upon a life-changing opportunity without realizing it.