Why Spinal Movement Matters More Than You Think
Most people understand that joints allow us to bend, twist, and move. But spinal joints play a far deeper role than just mobility. Every time a spinal joint moves, it stretches the surrounding paraspinal muscles—the deep muscles running alongside your spine. This stretching action is not just mechanical; it’s neurological. It stimulates specialised sensors that feed your brain constant updates about where your body is in space. This is called proprioception.
Proprioception: The Body’s Internal GPS
Proprioception is often described as the body’s sixth sense. It allows you to walk in the dark without tripping, adjust your posture without thinking, and coordinate complex movements like swimming, lifting, or surfing.
When your spinal joints move properly, they activate thousands of tiny mechanoreceptors located in the paraspinal muscles and ligaments. These receptors send signals to your brain and spinal cord, allowing smooth, precise, and coordinated movement.
Research shows that reduced spinal mobility can impair proprioceptive feedback, which may contribute to balance issues, altered muscle control, and even a higher risk of injury .
The Nervous System Connection
Here’s where things get even more fascinating: spinal movement doesn’t just keep your joints and muscles happy, it sharpens nerve communication throughout your entire body.
- Better movement = better communication: When joints move, they stretch and stimulate paraspinal muscles. This action activates the sensory nerves embedded within them, sending signals to the central nervous system.
- Brain-body connection: These signals travel through the spinal cord into the brain, where they are processed to create an accurate map of body position. This means your brain can send clearer, faster instructions back to your muscles.
- Loss of motion = miscommunication: When spinal joints lose proper motion—whether from sitting too long, injuries, or repetitive stress—nerve signals may become distorted. This can reduce body awareness and efficiency of movement.
A 2016 study published in Neural Plasticity found that spinal adjustments can improve sensorimotor integration in the brain, meaning chiropractic care directly influences how well the nervous system processes proprioceptive input .
Chiropractic Care and Proprioceptive Health
At our Wellington chiropractic clinic, we often explain that chiropractic adjustments aren’t just about easing discomfort. They restore normal spinal joint movement, which stretches the paraspinal muscles and reactivates those critical proprioceptive pathways. The result?
- Enhanced balance and coordination
- More efficient nervous system communication
- Improved athletic performance
- Greater resilience against injury
When your spine moves as it should, your body functions as it was designed to—coordinated, energised, and limitless.
Key Takeaway
Spinal joint movement is not just about flexibility—it’s about neural precision. Each time a spinal joint moves and stretches the paraspinal muscles, it enhances proprioceptive feedback and strengthens the communication between your brain and body. Chiropractic care helps keep this system working at its best, ensuring you can move through life with confidence, energy, and ease.
References
- Proske, U., & Gandevia, S. C. (2012). The proprioceptive senses: their roles in signalling body shape, body position and movement, and muscle force. Physiological Reviews, 92(4), 1651–1697.
- Brumagne, S., et al. (2008). Proprioceptive deficits in patients with low back pain: A systematic review of the literature. Spine, 33(6), 734–743.
- Haavik, H., & Murphy, B. (2016). The role of spinal manipulation in addressing altered sensorimotor integration and maladaptive plasticity in the central nervous system. Neural Plasticity, 2016, 3704964.
Experience Limitless Movement Chiropractic Care in Wellington
If you’re in Wellington and looking for expert chiropractic care, we’re here to help. At Limitless Chiropractic, we focus on helping you move better, feel stronger, and live without limits. Book your appointment today and take the first step toward a healthier, more mobile you!
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