The benefit of chiropractic lies in the improved movement and alignment of our spinal joints. Each joint contains two nerve endings of particular importance to chiropractic: proprioceptors and nociceptors. If our movement patterns and posture are normal then these nerves fire normally and chiropractic is not needed. But if our movement patterns and posture are not normal then chiropractic is of great health building benefit.

Proprioceptors – These nerve ending measure motion and posture. They reside in joints, muscle, tendons, and ligaments of our spine and send movement and posture information to our brain. The spinal cord is comprised of over 50% proprioceptor originating nerves.

This massive amount of information fuels and energizes our brain. Our brain depends on this continuous stream of information to coordinate complex processing.

If any portion of our spine is misaligned and stiff, the proprioceptors will not be stimulated to produce continuous stream of information to our brain. This has dangerous repercussions that cause a decrease coordination of:
- movement
- thought/memory
- learning
- emotion
- viscera(internal organ) function
- pain reduction
- stress response reduction.

This leads to decrease body function and disease.

Nociceptors – are often called pain receptors. They transmit potential pain signals to our brain.

If any portion of our spine is misaligned and stiff, the nociceptors send a barrage of information to our brain causing our brain to launch a potentially chronic stress fight or flight response. Our brain senses danger.

The chronic stress response is blamed as the origin of most of disease and all chronic disease. This chronic stress response causes:
- increased cortisol
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- increased blood glucose levels
- increased blood lipid levels
- increased cholesterol levels
- increased clotting factors
- increased protein degradation of muscle
- insulin resistance
- decreased short term memory, ability to concentrate, and learn new material
- increased feeling of stress, fear, anxiety and depression
- decreased serotonin levels
- increase pain
- decreased immunity
- bone loss
- decreased R.E.M. sleep
- decreased growth and testosterone hormone
- increased inflammation
- decrease digestion
- decrease sex drive
- muscle tightness
- postural deformity

Chiropractic’s role in health
A healthy moving spine yields normal proprioceptor and nociceptor output to our brain.

This output decreases our stress response, improves coordination of all body functions, and insures that nerve communications are unimpeded.

A normal functioning spine serves as a solid foundation from which all healthy lifestyle activities can lead to a healthier vital you.