The Autonomic Nervous System and the Chiropractic Adjustments

Researchers found that chiropractic adjustments have an effect on the Autonomic Nervous System. This is the part of the nervous system that controls things like organ function, metabolic rates, and sleep wake cycles to name a few. Researchers were able to measure the changes in "Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time" (ELPCT) which is one of the light reflexes of the eyes. This reflex is controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

A decrease in the Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time was observed after a chiropractic adjustment implying a direct link between a chiropractic adjustment and a response in the Autonomic Nervous System. The study was published in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics.

So when you hear a chiropractor talk about the immune system, or respiratory rates, or even blood pressure you can see that research like this and other studies like this have confirmed that the chiropractic adjustment does in fact have an impact on the body as a whole. Due to the changes in the central nervous system which controls all other systems of the body.