Chiropractic & the Nervous System

A blue 3D rendering of a man's nervous system. The rendering shows a main nerve point running from the brain, which branches out into systems that run throughout the arms, torso, and legs.
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Many people associate chiropractic care as a means to resolve issues within the skeletal and muscular areas of the body. However, most people don’t know that chiropractic care also helps prevent pinched nerves and other issues in the nervous system.

An illustrated diagram breaking down the parts of the human nervous system. The chart is titled "Human Nervous System." The left-most diagram is of a human body, showing how the nerves run throughout the body. Next to this illustration are two bubbles. One peach-colored bubble titled "CNS Central nervous system" and a blue bubble titled "PNS peripheral nervous system." Next to the human body illustration are two charts, one blue and one peach. The blue chart is titled parasympathetic nerves, which is associated with the peripheral nervous system. The chart shows what the nerves control, like pupil constriction, saliva stimulation, airway constriction, heart rate decrease, stomach activity stimulation, the the inhibition of the release of glucose, intestinal activity, and bladder contraction. The peach chart is titled 'Sympathetic nerves' and is associated with the central nervous system. The diagram outlines what these nerves control, such as pupil dilation, salivation inhibition, airway relaxation, heart rate increase, stomach activity inhibition, intestinal activity inhibition, and bladder relaxation. In the center of these two charts is an illustration nof the brain, spinal cord, and the nerve codes associated with the spinal cord. The two charts point to where each nerve type is located in the spine. For exapmle, three parasympathetic nerves that are located at the top of the spinal cord near the brain are responsible for constricting pupils, stimulating salvia, and constricting airways.

What Is the Nervous System?

The nervous system comprises the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Its purpose is to communicate information from the brain to the rest of the body.

There are two primary components of the nervous system—the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

Central Nervous System

The central nervous system is the body’s command center, in charge of receiving, processing, and responding to information. It consists of the brain and the spinal cord and controls the body’s overall function, including breathing and heart rate.

Peripheral Nervous System

The peripheral nervous system consists of visceral, cranial, and spinal nerves, which stimulate our skin, muscles, organs, and special senses (vision, smell, taste, hearing, and balance). The peripheral system is responsible for conveying information from the central nervous system to different parts of the body.

How Chiropractic Care Helps the Nervous System

When there is dysfunction in the spine, a nerve can become compressed (pinched), and the brain loses its ability to communicate with that specific area of the body. Chiropractic adjustments help with this dysfunction. During an adjustment, the chiropractor relieves pressure on the nerves to alleviate the pain and allow communication with the rest of the body for optimal function.

Learn More From Total Health Systems

Chiropractic care benefits all aspects of our bodily functions and optimizes our overall well-being.

Please visit our blog to learn more about the benefits of chiropractic care or schedule a consultation with a chiropractor at one of our six locations.

Fiona Gallagher's Bio

Dr. Fiona Gallagher grew up in Michigan. She graduated from Life University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Coaching and she received her Doctorate of Chiropractic in June 2022. Dr. Gallagher followed in her grandfather, Dr. Laurence Gallagher and her great grandparent’s footsteps in becoming a chiropractor. She received her first chiropractic adjustment from her grandfather when she was just a day old. Dr. Fiona Gallagher is Webster certified for pregnant women and is also certified in activator technique. Dr. Gallagher spent her internship in a pediatric and prenatal chiropractic office in Atlanta, GA and has experience with this population. While in school, she also attended a mission trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. She plans on furthering her education on pediatrics, nutrition, and women’s health and wellness. She has a deep passion to help others live a natural and holistic lifestyle. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, traveling, spending time on the lake, and cooking plant-based meals.