Impact of Neck Pain

Scientists know that your brain uses sensory information from your muscles and joints around your spine to help control your balance and posture, and to make sure that you’re moving properly. If that information from your spine isn’t very good, your brain will struggle to control what’s going on in your body.

People with neck pain have poor communication between neck and brain

Sensorimotor Function

When your brain takes sensory information and uses it to help guide movement and control muscles we call this sensorimotor function. Research has shown that people with neck had poor communication between their neck and their brains which meant that they weren’t as good at controlling their balance and other types of sensorimotor function.

Chiropractic Research Study

Scientists at the Centre for Chiropractic Research at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic have even shown that chiropractic care for older adults improves specific forms of sensorimotor function that is very relevant to falls prevention. For example, they have shown that chiropractic care for older adults improves how accurately your brain knows where your ankle joint is, even though you have got your eyes closed.

References

1. Haavik H, Kumari N, Holt K, et al. The contemporary model of vertebral column joint dysfunction and impact of high-velocity, low-amplitude controlled vertebral thrusts on neuromuscular function. European Journal of Applied Physiology 2021:1-46.
2. Uthaikhup S, Jull G, Sungkarat S, et al. The influence of neck pain on sensorimotor function in the elderly. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 2012;55(3):667-72. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2012.01.013 [published Online First: 2012/02/22]
3. Abbruzzese G, Berardelli A. Sensorimotor integration in movement disorders. Movement Disorders 2003;18(3):231-40.
4. Brumagne S, Cordo P, Lysens R, et al. The Role of Paraspinal Muscle Spindles in Lumbosacral Position Sense in Individuals With and Without Low Back Pain. 2000;25(8):989-94. doi: 10.1097/00007632-200004150-00015
5. Haavik H, Murphy B. The role of spinal manipulation in addressing disordered sensorimotor integration and altered motor control. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2012;22(5):768-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.02.012 [published Online First: 2012/04/10]
6. Haavik H, Murphy B. Subclinical neck pain and the effects of cervical manipulation on elbow joint position sense. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011;34(2):88-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.12.009 [published Online First: 2011/02/22]
7. Lackner JR, DiZio P. Vestibular, Proprioceptive, and Haptic Contributions to Spatial Orientation. Annual Review of Psychology 2004;56(1):115-47. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.142023
8. Pickar JG, Wheeler JD. Response of muscle proprioceptors to spinal manipulative-like loads in the anesthetized cat. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2001;24(1):2-11.
9. Holt KR, Haavik H, Lee AC, et al. Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care to Improve Sensorimotor Function Associated With Falls Risk in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2016 doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.02.003 [published Online First: 2016/04/07]
10. Bryans R, Decina P, Descarreaux M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2014;37(1):42-63.
11. Wong JJ, Shearer HM, Mior S, et al. Are manual therapies, passive physical modalities, or acupuncture effective for the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders or neck pain and associated disorders? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the OPTIMa collaboration. The Spine Journal 2016;16(12):1598-630.
12. Gross A, Miller J, D’Sylva J, et al. Manipulation or mobilisation for neck pain: a Cochrane Review. Manual therapy 2010;15(4):315-33.