Brainwaves, Stress, and Chiropractic: How Adjustments Balance the Nervous System

Have you ever heard the saying “Chiropractic care is about the nervous system, not just the spine”? One of the ways to understand this is by looking at the brain’s electrical activity – our brainwaves. The brain constantly produces electrical patterns (measurable on an EEG, or electroencephalogram) that reflect how alert, calm, or stressed we are. In a healthy, balanced nervous system, these brainwave patterns shift appropriately: you can be alert when you need to focus, and you can relax when it’s time to rest. However, if the patterns are out of balance, it can show up as problems like anxiety, ADHD, or chronic stress overload. This report will explore what ideal EEG brainwave patterns look like, what it means if your brainwaves are under-aroused, over-aroused, or unstable, and how chiropractic care can help normalize these patterns.

We’ll also look at the tools chiropractors use to measure changes in brainwaves and stress responses, and highlight research – especially the work of Dr. Heidi Haavik – showing how spinal adjustments can improve brain function through neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt and change). The goal is to explain this in plain language for patients, so you can understand the science behind how a chiropractic adjustment might just “reset” your brain and help you feel and function better.

Understanding Brainwaves and a Balanced Nervous System

Our brains operate using a mix of electrical rhythms commonly grouped into four main brainwave types: Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. Each of these has a different frequency range and is associated with a different state of mind or level of arousal:

• Beta waves – Represent an active, busy brain. When you’re wide awake, concentrating, or dealing with a stressor, beta waves are dominant. This is the “on” state for focus, problem-solving, or reacting to challenges.

• Alpha waves – Reflect a meditative, relaxed state. Alpha is prominent when you’re calm, perhaps quietly thinking or daydreaming. It’s linked to relaxation, healing, and a balanced mood.

• Theta waves – Appear in light sleep or deep relaxation, and during creative or meditative states. Theta is sometimes called the “twilight” state – not fully asleep, but deeply relaxed or inwardly focused.

• Delta waves – These are the slowest waves, seen in deep sleep. Delta dominates when your body is in deep restorative sleep, which is important for physical recovery and healing.

In a balanced nervous system, we see an “ideal” EEG pattern – which isn’t one single brainwave, but rather the appropriate waves at the appropriate times. Think of it as the brain being flexible and responsive. When it’s time to be active or deal with a mental task, a balanced brain can increase fast activity (beta waves) to meet the challenge. When it’s time to rest, that same brain can shift gears and produce more slower waves (alpha or theta) for relaxation. In other words, a healthy brain can be busy when necessary and rest when necessary.

According to data gathered through years of EEG analysis, an ideally balanced person has a nervous system that functions optimally: they tend to have high energy, a positive mental attitude, good focus, and few health complaints. Such an individual’s brainwave profile would show good organization and appropriate variability – for example, a stable alpha rhythm when quietly resting, and a robust beta response when solving a math problem or hearing an unexpected loud sound. This ideal pattern corresponds to someone who is resilient to stress, mentally alert, and generally in a state of well-being. It’s the brainwave equivalent of being “in balance” or in a state of homeostasis.

But what happens when the brainwave patterns are not ideal? If the nervous system is out of balance, we typically see one of several characteristic patterns on an EEG. These non-ideal patterns are often categorized as under-aroused, over-aroused, or unstable/chaotic brainwave profiles (and in extreme cases, an exhausted pattern). Each of these has distinct features and is associated with specific symptoms or conditions. Let’s break those down:

Non-Ideal EEG Patterns and Related Conditions

When brainwave activity is dysregulated, it can broadly manifest in a few ways. Below is a summary of different EEG pattern profiles, what they mean for the nervous system, common symptoms or conditions linked to them, and how chiropractic care may help in each scenario:

Nervous System State	Brainwave Pattern Traits	Common Symptoms / Conditions	Chiropractic Focus
Balanced (Ideal)(Healthy mix of Beta/Alpha)	Flexible and adaptive brain activity. Able to ramp up Beta (alertness) during stress and increase Alpha/Theta when relaxing.	High energy, mental clarity, good focus, positive mood. Few symptoms; resilient to stress and illness.	Maintain optimal function. Ensure the spine and nervous system communicate freely so the brain stays adaptable and balanced.
Under-Aroused (Low activation, “sluggish” brain)	Overall brain activity is lower than ideal – often not enough Beta (fast activity) and possibly excess slow waves. Brain may have trouble “waking up” to respond.	Fatigue, brain fog, low motivation. Often seen in conditions like ADD/ADHD (inattentive type), depression, or chronic fatigue.	Stimulate and awaken the nervous system. Adjustments act as a gentle jump-start to increase arousal.
Over-Aroused(High stress, “stuck on” brain)	Excess Beta and not enough Alpha. Brain appears hyperactive, even at rest, and struggles to downshift into relaxation mode.	Anxiety, stress, insomnia are common. Also physical tension (tight muscles, teeth grinding).	Calm and reset the nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments help trigger a relaxation response.
Unstable (Chaotic)(Erratic, “rollercoaster” brain)	Brainwave activity swings between high and low arousal unpredictably.	Mixed symptoms – mood swings, panic attacks, ADHD, migraines.	Stabilize and organize the nervous system. Adjustments help bring coherence to brain activity.
Exhausted (Burnout)(Collapsed, “burnt-out” brain)	Low activity across the board due to chronic overuse of stress systems.	Chronic fatigue, burnout, immune exhaustion, fibromyalgia, etc.	Rebuild resilience with gentle and supportive chiropractic care.

Chiropractic Technology and Objective Measurement

Many chiropractors today utilize advanced technology to assess nervous system function. These tools measure things like brainwave activity (EEG), heart rate variability (HRV), respiration, skin conductance, and muscle tension. This allows for a real-time snapshot of how your brain and body respond to stress—and more importantly—how they recover.

How do these patterns relate to real life? Imagine a car with different gear settings. A balanced brain shifts gears smoothly between park, drive, and reverse as needed.

An under-aroused brain is like a car stuck in park or first gear – it has trouble getting going.

An over-aroused brain is like a car stuck with the accelerator floored – revved up too high and unable to idle.

An unstable brain keeps shifting erratically on its own – it might lurch forward then brake suddenly.

And an exhausted brain is like an engine that’s been red-lined for too long and is now close to stalling out.

These brain states have clear connections to symptoms we recognize: for example, many children and adults with ADHD have brains that are under-aroused in certain regions (leading to daydreaming or lack of focus) but can also show unstable bursts of activity (leading to impulsivity – a chaotic pattern). People with anxiety disorders often have brains in a chronic over-aroused state, which is why they feel tense and have trouble relaxing or sleeping. Chronic stress can push anyone toward over-arousal (high alert mode all the time), and if it continues for months or years, the system may hit “exhausted” where fatigue and health breakdown occur.

The encouraging news is that brainwave patterns are not fixed – they can change. This is where concepts of neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to rewire and adapt) come in, and it’s also where chiropractic care can play a role. By addressing the health of the spine and nervous system, chiropractors aim to help move your brain and body back toward that balanced, ideal state. In the next sections, we’ll see how a chiropractic adjustment can influence these brainwave patterns and discuss tools that measure these changes.

How Chiropractic Care Helps Normalize Brainwave Patterns

Chiropractic care is fundamentally about improving the function of the nervous system. When a chiropractor gives an adjustment (for instance, a quick gentle thrust to a specific spinal joint that isn’t moving properly), it does more than just “pop” the joint. It actually sends a burst of sensory information up to the brain and can reset how the brain is firing. Dr. Heidi Haavik, a neuroscientist and chiropractor, has done extensive research on this. She explains that when spinal segments aren’t moving well (sometimes called a subluxation in chiropractic), the signals going from the body to the brain get distorted. The brain starts to adapt in a bad way to this faulty input, leading to “maladaptive plastic changes” – essentially, the brain’s wiring changes for the worse, which can impair how you sense and move . This might contribute to poor focus, pain, or other dysfunction. The exciting finding from Dr. Haavik’s team and others is that chiropractic adjustments can reverse these changes. By correcting the spinal dysfunction, normal nerve signals resume and the brain can reorganize in a healthy way . In plain terms, an adjustment helps retrain your brain.

Multiple studies support the idea that chiropractic care leads to measurable improvements in brain function. For example, spinal adjustments have been shown to improve various aspects of nervous system performance – from better reflexes and muscle control to enhanced sensory processing in the brain . Let’s look at some specific research findings:

• Boosting Brainwave Balance: In a recent clinical study published in 2023, researchers examined people with chronic low back pain and measured their brainwaves (EEG) before and after a series of chiropractic adjustments. The results were remarkable: after the first adjustment, the patients’ brains showed significant increases in Alpha, Beta, and Theta wave power, and a decrease in Delta waves . In simple terms, their brains became more active where needed (more of the healthy, awake rhythms) and less stuck in the slow, sluggish patterns. What’s more, they found increased Alpha activity in areas of the brain associated with the Default Mode Network, which is involved in calm introspection and mood . After four weeks of care, these patients also reported feeling better – less anxiety and depression, less fatigue and pain, better sleep, and overall improved quality of life . The study concluded that many of the health benefits of chiropractic care may come from these changes in brain activity, essentially restoring a more normal pattern .

• Neuroplasticity in Action: Another study demonstrated that a single chiropractic adjustment could significantly improve brain function even in the short term. In research highlighted by Dr. Haavik and others, one session of spinal adjustment was associated with about a 20% improvement in brain function (as measured by complex reaction tests and processing ability) compared to those who didn’t get adjusted . This suggests the brain was instantly working more efficiently after the adjustment. Over the long term, chiropractic care seems to train the brain toward a more relaxed yet alert state. In a three-year observational study with around 100 volunteers, EEG scans taken before and after chiropractic adjustments showed that in most people, brainwave patterns shifted toward a healthier balance . In particular, the researchers saw a notable increase in Alpha waves after adjustments – remember, Alpha is the relaxed, healing state. Participants who started out with imbalanced or abnormal EEGs tended to normalize, whereas those who already had balanced brainwaves saw little change (which is good – it means the adjustments didn’t overshoot or cause adverse effects) . This is a strong indication that chiropractic care can encourage positive neuroplastic changes, helping an under-aroused brain become more alert or an over-aroused brain become calmer, depending on what that individual needs.

• Improved Brain-Body Coordination: Dr. Haavik’s research also shows that adjustments can enhance how well the brain communicates with muscles and processes sensory information. For example, when neck or back joints were adjusted, studies using EEG and other techniques found changes in somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) – basically improved processing of touch and movement signals in the brain. Other studies have noted better muscle control and even strength output after adjustments . These changes reflect a brain that is more in tune with the body, likely because the “noise” from spinal dysfunction is removed. A well-adjusted spine sends clear signals to the brain, and the brain in turn can send better motor commands back to the body. Over time, this can translate to better balance, coordination, and possibly even improvements in cognitive functions like concentration and memory, since the brain isn’t as distracted by incorrect information from the spine.

• Stress Response Modulation: Chiropractic care often has a direct effect on the autonomic nervous system – the part of your nervous system that controls stress responses (sympathetic “fight or flight”) and relaxation responses (parasympathetic “rest and digest”). High stress can push people into that over-aroused sympathetic state we described earlier. Adjustments seem to help the body rebalance toward parasympathetic (relaxation) dominance when needed. One way this has been measured is through Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a test that looks at the healthy variation in time between heartbeats. Higher HRV generally means a more balanced, resilient nervous system. Research has established that HRV is a good indicator of stress and health, and notably, HRV tends to improve with chiropractic care . Patients often report feeling an immediate calm after an adjustment – sometimes they’ll notice they can breathe deeper or their hands warm up (indicating a shift from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest). These are tangible signs that the brain and autonomic nervous system are rebalancing.

Adjustments as a Neurological “Pattern Interrupt”

One of the most fascinating ways to think about a chiropractic adjustment is as a neurological pattern interrupt. When your brain and body get stuck in a rut – whether it’s the rut of under-arousal or over-arousal – a swift, precise input from a spinal adjustment can literally break that pattern. There’s a saying some chiropractors use: “If you need a software reset, sometimes you hit the hardware reset button.” In this analogy, your nervous system’s software (the habitual firing patterns in your brain) can be reset by a sudden yet controlled jolt to the hardware (your spine/nerves).

Clinically, chiropractors have observed this for years. Dr. Richard Barwell (a chiropractor who worked with EEG and neurofeedback experts and a mentor of mine) reported seeing dramatic changes in patients’ brainwave activity immediately after just one adjustment. In fact, he noted that sometimes one chiropractic adjustment produced the kind of brainwave improvements that might otherwise take 40-60 sessions of neurofeedback training to achieve! This is a striking statement – neurofeedback is a therapy where you train your brainwaves through repeated sessions, and here we have an adjustment doing something similar instantaneously. It’s as if the adjustment serves as a quick reboot for the brain’s operating system. Patients often subjectively feel this too – ever hear someone say they felt “clearer” or “lighter” right after their adjustment? Those feelings correspond to real changes in brain activity.

From a scientific perspective, how could a spinal adjustment have such an effect? Dr. Siegfried Othmer, a neurofeedback researcher, speculated on this in response to reports of chiropractic’s impact on EEG. He suggested that a rapid chiropractic thrust might send a burst of highly synchronized nerve signals into the brain via the spinal cord, particularly bombarding an area called the thalamus . The thalamus is like the brain’s switchboard – it processes and distributes a lot of incoming sensory information. A sudden volley of input could essentially “reset” the thalamus’s set-point, helping to recalibrate circuits that were dysregulated . In simpler terms, the adjustment might hit the reset button on the brain’s arousal control center, allowing abnormal patterns to break and reorganize into healthier ones. This hypothesis aligns with what patients and chiropractors witness: an anxious person might suddenly feel a wave of calm, or a foggy-headed person might become more alert and focused after the spine is adjusted. It’s a rapid physiological change that we can attribute to the nervous system getting out of an unhealthy feedback loop.

Another way to view a chiropractic adjustment is as a big stimulus to the brain that “distracts” it from whatever maladaptive state it was in. If your brain was stuck continually replaying a stress response (like a song on repeat), an adjustment is like switching the track. The new sensory input floods the brain and forces it to respond differently, often for the better. This is why chiropractic care is sometimes used as part of a broader approach for neurodevelopmental conditions or PTSD – essentially to disrupt negative neurological patterns and open a window for establishing healthier ones.

It’s important to note that while one adjustment can interrupt a pattern, lasting change usually requires reinforcing the new, healthy pattern. That’s why chiropractors often recommend a series of adjustments, especially for chronic issues. Each “reset” gives the brain a chance to learn a new normal. Over time, those repeated corrections and the patient’s own lifestyle changes (like improved posture, exercises, stress management techniques, etc.) help the brain solidify a more balanced pattern on its own. Eventually, the goal is that the patient’s nervous system stays balanced with less frequent interventions – essentially, it learns to self-regulate.

Real-World Improvements: What the Evidence and Cases Show

The idea that chiropractic can influence brainwaves and stress might sound surprising to someone who only thinks of chiropractic for back pain. However, there is a growing body of evidence – both scientific studies and individual case reports – that illustrates how adjusting the spine can have wide-ranging effects on brain and nervous system health. Here are a few noteworthy examples:

• Reduced Anxiety and Better Stress Adaptation: We discussed a 2023 study earlier in which patients under chiropractic care had objectively measured reductions in anxiety and fatigue, along with EEG changes . To put this in perspective, these patients not only felt less anxious, their brain scans showed changes consistent with a calmer mental state. Chiropractic doesn’t treat anxiety as a psychologist would, but by balancing the nervous system (reducing that over-arousal pattern), people naturally experience less of the racing thoughts, tension, and sleeplessness that come with chronic stress and anxiety. Many chiropractic offices report patient feedback like “I’m handling stress better” or “my panic attacks are less frequent” as care progresses, especially when using techniques and technologies to tailor the treatment to the patient’s neurological profile.

• ADHD and Focus Issues: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often associated with an under-aroused or unstable EEG pattern – the brain has trouble maintaining the beta waves for focus, and may jump around erratically. While more formal research is needed, there are numerous case studies and clinical observations of children and adults with ADHD improving under chiropractic care. In fact, chiropractic literature has many case reports of significant improvements in ADD/ADHD symptoms . For instance, some patients become less impulsive, better able to concentrate, and more relaxed after a series of adjustments. In terms of objective data, one might see improvements in their EEG scans (for example, higher beta activity during focus tasks) or better neurobehavioral scores.

• Improved Mood and Less Depression: The nervous system balance affects mood regulation. One study cited in a review found that people who received chiropractic adjustments had improvements in various aspects of their well-being, including a 20% improvement in depressive symptoms on average. When the brain’s frontal lobes (which are involved in mood) start receiving clearer input and operating better, patients often report they simply feel happier or more “themselves.” Chiropractors have long observed this “side benefit” – someone might come in for back pain and a month later mention their chronic sadness has lifted. It’s likely due to the overall normalization of brain function and chemistry (for example, there’s some evidence that adjustments can increase certain neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin, which are the feel-good chemicals, though research in that area is still emerging).

• Better Sleep: Several of the patterns we described (over-arousal, unstable, exhausted) wreak havoc on sleep. By calming an over-aroused nervous system or boosting an under-aroused one, chiropractic often helps normalize sleep patterns. The 2023 study found objective improvements in the amount of time patients spent in deep (light) sleep stages after a month of care . People who are adjusted commonly report deeper sleep and easier time falling asleep. This makes sense: if your brainwaves are able to shift into the proper theta and delta patterns at night, you’ll sleep well. Chiropractic can facilitate that shift by reducing pain, easing tension, and rebalancing autonomic function (for instance, by lowering nighttime sympathetic dominance that might otherwise keep you awake).

• Cases of Neurological Disorders: There are also dramatic individual cases that, while they might be outliers, show the potential neurological impact of chiropractic. One published case report detailed a young woman with epileptic seizures (juvenile myoclonic epilepsy) who saw improvement in her seizure frequency after a course of upper cervical (neck) chiropractic adjustments. Seizures are an extreme example of unstable brain activity. While chiropractic is not a cure for epilepsy, this case and a few others suggest that for some patients, normalizing spinal function may reduce neurological irritation enough to lessen the severity or frequency of seizures. Another area of case reports is patients with concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries who find their post-concussion symptoms (headaches, concentration issues) improve with chiropractic care – likely because the adjustments help restore proper nerve signaling and blood flow, supporting brain recovery.

• Quality of Life and Overall Brain-Body Health: Beyond specific conditions, the sum effect of balancing brainwave patterns is an overall enhancement in quality of life. In one large study of nearly 3,000 chiropractic patients (not focusing on EEG but on health outcomes), the majority reported improvements not just in physical pain but in mental/emotional well-being and stress levels . This holistic improvement is what we would expect if the nervous system is functioning better: all systems under nervous control (which is basically everything) can improve. Patients often note things like improved digestion, more energy, better focus at work, less frequent illnesses – these are signs of a robust, well-coordinated brain-body connection.

Putting it all together: Chiropractic care appears to act as a powerful, yet natural, regulator for the nervous system. It’s like taking a chaotic orchestra and giving it a good conductor – suddenly everything starts to harmonize. EEG brainmaps have shown that people move closer to an “ideal” brainwave state after adjustments, especially in terms of balancing their high-frequency (busy) and low-frequency (relaxed) brain activity. Research from Dr. Haavik and colleagues provides a scientific explanation: adjusting the spine changes the signals to the brain, which induces positive neuroplastic changes, improving how the brain functions .

Of course, it’s important to maintain realistic expectations. Not every patient will have dramatic EEG changes or life-altering results in a short time – each individual’s case is unique. Factors like nutrition, exercise, mental health support, and others also play roles in brain health. Chiropractic is one piece of the puzzle, albeit an important one that is often overlooked in mainstream medicine. What we can say with confidence, backed by both clinical experience and a growing pile of studies, is that chiropractic adjustments positively influence the brain and nervous system, helping to bring a person toward that balanced state of ease (chiropractors call it being in a state of “ease” vs. “disease”).

Conclusion

Your brain and body are deeply interconnected. Ideal EEG brainwave patterns – a sign of a balanced nervous system – correlate with feeling focused, calm, and resilient. On the other hand, specific irregular patterns (whether an over-aroused, under-aroused, or unstable brain) can correspond to issues like anxiety, attention problems, or an overwhelmed stress response. Chiropractic care offers a unique approach: rather than treating symptoms with drugs, it aims to restore normal communication in the nervous system by correcting spinal misalignments and relieving pressure or tension on nerves. This, in effect, can “reboot” your brain toward healthier patterns.

Pioneering researchers such as Dr. Heidi Haavik have documented how spinal adjustments trigger neuroplastic changes – the brain begins to function better, which can translate into tangible benefits like less pain, improved mood, better sleep, and sharper cognitive function . Even long-standing patterns can shift: a chronically stressed (over-aroused) person can learn to relax again, and a fatigued (under-aroused) person can find new energy. Chiropractic care often acts as the pattern interrupt that breaks the cycle of stress or dysfunction, giving your system a chance to recalibrate.

In summary, the health of your spine affects the health of your brain. An ideal EEG isn’t just an abstract goal – it’s a reflection of a well-tuned nervous system, which chiropractic can help you achieve. By normalizing brainwave patterns and modulating the stress response, chiropractic adjustments do more than relieve a backache; they empower your brain and body to work together optimally. This leads to better adaptability to life’s stresses and a higher level of wellness.

References: The information in this article is backed by research and clinical findings. For instance, studies have shown chiropractic’s impact on brainwave frequencies, documented reduced anxiety and improved neuro-function after chiropractic care, and observed that adjustments can serve as a “reset” for abnormal brain activity patterns . Pioneering work by chiropractic neurologists and researchers supports these claims

Research Article

Ultimately, if you’re someone dealing with anxiety, ADHD, chronic stress, or you’re just curious about improving your brain health, it’s worth considering chiropractic care as part of your health journey. With both subjective experiences and scientific evidence aligning, it’s clear that a well-adjusted spine contributes to a well-adjusted brain – and a better quality of life.