When most people think chiropractic, they usually think relief from headaches, neck pain, and low back pain. Unless someone has experienced chiropractic, they may not realize how many benefits chiropractic can have on overall performance. In this short blog I want to explain to you the three ways chiropractic care can help you improve in any area of life.
Chiropractic helps restore the brain-body connection
Your brain is responsible for every function in your body. In order for your muscles to swing a golf club, your legs to stride across the finish line, or your mouth to deliver that killer sales speech, your brain must be able to effectively send messages down your spine, through your spinal nerves, and out to your body. Chiropractic adjustments make sure your spine is in proper alignment so your brain can communicate with your body at 100%.
Chiropractic adjustments increase activity in the prefrontal cortex
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for higher level thinking - executive functions, complex tasks, personality expression, and decision making. A recent study found prefrontal cortex activity to be increased by 20% after adjustments to misaligned vertebra. Activity in this area means a clearer mind, better mood, and sharper thoughts, all things important for performing at your best.
Getting adjusted puts your body in a parasympathetic state
Your body has an automatic nervous system that is divided into two main components - the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic, or fight or flight nervous system, is turned on when your body is in a stressed out state. Your body makes all the stress hormones – cortisol, adrenaline, and more to get you through the stressful period. Blood moves away from the brain and digestive organs out to your arms and legs, you become more jumpy, and sleep, relaxation and digestion are difficult for your body. When your body is in a sympathetic state for a prolonged period of time, it can wreak havoc on your body, causing any and all chronic disease. The techniques we use at Lifelong Health Chiropractic focus on helping your body turn off the sympathetic nervous system and activate the other part of the autonomic nervous system, called the parasympathetic nervous system. When your body can freely move back and forth between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in response to what’s happening in your body and life, you can heal and perform at your highest capacity.
Want to get a leg up and perform better? Look no further, send us a request for a complimentary consult. And since we are obsessed with helping all of you function at your best in life, please email us with your favorite performance improvement techniques!