The Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment: Pain Relief, Mobility, and More

Chiropractic manipulation, also known as spinal adjustment, is a core component of chiropractic treatment and delivers many health benefits, including pain relief, better joint function, and improved coordination. While spinal manipulation is only one tool in the chiropractor’s toolkit, it is perhaps the technique most commonly associated with chiropractic treatment. 

What Is Chiropractic Manipulation and How Does It Work?

Manipulation involves practitioners using their hands to mobilise the spine and other joints. However, the practice encompasses more than just the audible sounds of adjustments. It is primarily the neurological mechanisms behind this treatment that chiropractors aim to harness, in order to support the body’s inbuilt processes for relief and restoration. 

Chiropractic Benefits: How Manipulation Supports Coordination & Posture

Ever wonder how your body knows where it is in space without conscious effort? Enter proprioception – the body’s sense of self-awareness and spatial orientation. (To find out a little more detail on proprioception and pain relief, check our previous blog about movement and pain here. ) Chiropractic manipulation leverages this proprioceptive feedback system to fine-tune sensory motor control.^1,2,3 By applying precise pressure and movement to spinal tissue, chiropractors stimulate proprioceptors, sending signals to the brain to recalibrate and improve coordination, balance, and posture.⁴ It’s akin to giving your body a gentle nudge in the right direction, helping it find its optimal alignment and function.

Pain Relief Through Chiropractic Treatment: Brain-Body Connection

But let’s not overlook the benefit of chiropractic manual therapy when it comes to soothing aches and pains. Beyond the often-immediate symptom relief experienced by patients receiving manipulative treatment, lies a fascinating phenomenon within the brain – descending inhibition. When joints are adjusted, it can stimulate the release of endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers – providing rapid relief to sore muscles and inflamed tissues.^5,6 Additionally, manipulation can enhance the brain’s ability to create descending inhibition, essentially turning down the volume on pain signals. The proprioceptive afferent (or sensory)message, triggered by manipulations, serves as an amplifier for this pain inhibition, facilitating pain relief from the brain downward.

Essentially, chiropractic adjustments or spinal manipulation harness the power of proprioceptive feedback to enhance sensorimotor control and alleviate pain by utilising the brain’s remarkable capacity for descending inhibition.  

The Holistic Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care offers numerous benefits for musculoskeletal and neurological health. In addition to hands-on spinal manipulation, chiropractors use tools and techniques tailored to your needs—helping you move better, feel stronger, and live pain-free. Rather than simply treating symptoms, chiropractors aim to address the deeper cause of the issue, or the cause behind the injury. By assessing coordination they aim to addressdysfunction before it reaches the level of pain. The philosophy of chiropractors is to restore balance and function to the body as a whole, and help maintain the body’s healthy functions throughout your life. By combining hands-on treatment with lifestyle recommendations, exercise therapy and nutritional advice, chiropractors encourage patients to take an active role in their own health journey.

Chiropractic’s therapeutic approach offers more than just a quick fix for pain – it taps into the body’s ability for self-correction, promoting better function, mobility, and pain relief. So, the next time you are feeling stiff, uncomfortable or if you have suffered an injury, consider giving chiropractic care a try.

What Are the Key Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment?

Chiropractic treatment offers a wide range of benefits beyond immediate pain relief. These include:

• Improved Joint Mobility: Adjustments can help restore natural movement in stiff or dysfunctional joints.

• Enhanced Nervous System Function: Spinal manipulation may improve communication between the brain and body.

• Better Posture and Alignment: Regular care supports spinal alignment, posture, and musculoskeletal balance.

• Non-Invasive Pain Management: Many patients experience reduced reliance on medications through regular care.

• Improved Coordination and Balance: By stimulating proprioceptive receptors, chiropractic adjustments can boost your ability to move confidently.

• Stress and Tension Reduction: A well-functioning spine supports your overall wellbeing—physically and mentally.

These benefits of chiropractic care make it a valuable option for people experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort, sports injuries, chronic pain, or general health concerns.

We would love to help you

If you would like to find out more, or wish to make an appointment with one of our friendly and professional chiropractors, please call us on (07) 5580 5655 or visit our website to book online. Spine Sport Feet is located in the the medical precinct of Homeworld Helensvale. We have been providing allied health services to Gold Coast locals for over 20 years.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Benefits

What are the main benefits of chiropractic treatment?
Chiropractic care can relieve pain, improve joint mobility, enhance nervous system function, and support better posture. It also promotes long-term wellbeing by addressing underlying causes of discomfort.

Is chiropractic manipulation safe?
Yes, spinal manipulation is considered a safe and effective treatment when performed by a qualified chiropractor. It is non-invasive and often used to reduce musculoskeletal pain and restore movement.

Do chiropractors use any tools for manipulation?
Yes, chiropractors may use handheld instruments such as an Activator (a spring-loaded chiropractic manipulation tool) to perform gentle, targeted adjustments, especially for patients who prefer a low-force approach.

How many sessions do I need to see benefits?
The number of sessions varies depending on your condition and goals. Some people experience relief after one session, while others benefit from ongoing care for maintenance and long-term improvement.

References:

1. 1. Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care to Improve Sensorimotor Function Associated With Falls Risk in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Holt, Kelly R. et al. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 39, Issue 4, 267 – 278

1. 1. Haavik H, Murphy B. The role of spinal manipulation in addressing disordered sensorimotor integration and altered motor control. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2012 Oct;22(5):768-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.02.012. Epub 2012 Apr 6. PMID: 22483612.

1. 1. Taylor HH, Murphy B. Altered sensorimotor integration with cervical spine manipulation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008 Feb;31(2):115-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2007.12.011. PMID: 18328937.

1. 1. Subclinical Neck Pain and the Effects of Cervical Manipulation on Elbow Joint Position Sense. Haavik, Heidi et al. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 34, Issue 2, 88 – 97

1. 1. Giles Gyer, Jimmy Michael, James Inklebarger, Jaya Shanker Tedla, Spinal manipulation therapy: Is it all about the brain? A current review of the neurophysiological effects of manipulation, Journal of Integrative Medicine,Volume 17, Issue 5, 2019, 328-337,

1. 1. Vernon HT, Dhami MS, Howley TP, Annett R. Spinal manipulation and beta-endorphin: a controlled study of the effect of a spinal manipulation on plasma beta-endorphin levels in normal males. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1986 Jun;9(2):115-23. PMID: 2942618.