Parasympathetic & Sympathetic
The nerves that come out your spine at your upper neck and tailbone are responsible for parasympathetic nerve activity which controls rest, proper digestion, healthy immune response, calm, sleep, appropriate metabolism and healthy muscle tone. Sympathetic nerves in your mid and lower back are the ‘fight or flight’ kind that increase heart & breathing rate, shut down (or off) digestion & immune function and increase muscle tension.
Nerve Stress = Dis-EASE
When you perceive a potential threat, your body releases hormones like adrenalin and cortisol to power your ‘fight or flight’ response. Here’s some of what happens…
1. a perceived (or occasionally real) stressor occurs (mental, physical, chemical)
2. your body is flooded with glucose (sugar) to power large muscle groups
3. insulin production is stopped to prevent sugar storage
4. arteries narrow, heart rate increases, blood pressure elevates
5. immune activity is suppressed – it’s a waste of resources in a crisis
6. ideally, the stressor is removed
Neck Adjustments Shown to Decrease Sympathetic Activity
What does this have to do with chiropractic? EVERYTHING. When you are subluxated, especially in your neck, sympathetic tone is seemingly increased. What this means is that you are already in a state of dis-EASE before you even introduce outside life stresses into your life. Your body’s function is already leaning toward stress, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, poor digestion and slow metabolism. A 2011 study showed that “The results of this study suggest that CSM (chiropractic adjustment) affects regional cerebral glucose metabolism related to sympathetic relaxation and pain reduction.”
The most important areas of your spine to clear of subluxation are your neck and lower back/sacrum. It’s the same for doing exercise. If you could only exercise to stabilize two areas of your spine, you would get the most benefit in your upper neck and lower back/tailbone because of the impact they have parasympathetic nerves.
