When we think of human performance, most of us picture physical training – weights in the gym, endless laps in the pool, or strict diets. While those things are undeniably important, there’s something deeper that shapes every ounce of strength, speed, and endurance: the nervous system. What happens when we adjust the subluxation to remove interference in that nervous system and allow it to perform optimally? Can this help elevate human performance?
A recent case report in the Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal followed a competitive swimmer whose performance improved under chiropractic care. While he initially sought help for discomfort and posture, his results hinted at something bigger: the idea that chiropractic adjustments may help fine-tune the brain–body connection in ways that support performance. [1]
While this case report is just one story, it isn’t a story appearing alone. With new research, especially from Dr. Heidi Haavik and her colleagues at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, we are increasingly able to see just how chiropractic care changes the brain and drives the muscles. And the findings are compelling.
The Nervous System: Your Body’s Control Centre
The nervous system is the control hub of human performance. It carries signals from the brain to the body and back again. When this communication is clear, muscles respond quickly and efficiently. But when the system is under stress—whether from poor posture, injury, or what chiropractors call subluxation—that conversation can be disrupted.
Chiropractic care aims to restore clarity to this brain–body dialogue. When we adjust, we allow optimal nervous system function which allows that conversation to happen without distortion, allowing nerve signals to travel with greater efficiency. What this means in practice is more than pain relief – it may also mean faster reactions, stronger muscle contractions, and smoother coordination as research is beginning to show (see below).
What does the broader research say?
Since chiropractic began, it hasn’t just been about neck and back pain, but science hadn’t allowed us to capture the brain-based changes and thus we were limited in what we could claim. Today, advancements in neurophysiology allow us to better quantify what’s happening in the nervous system. Two of the most important tools are:
- H-reflex (Hoffmann reflex):A measure of spinal cord excitability. It reflects how quickly and effectively the nervous system can trigger a muscle response.
- V-wave:A measure of “voluntary drive” from the brain to the muscle. Higher V-wave signals mean the brain is recruiting more motor units, generating stronger force.
Haavik’s research shows chiropractic adjustments can alter both H-reflex and V-wave activity, indicating the nervous system is more responsive after care. [2, 3] For athletes, this can translate as faster starts, stronger strokes, or better endurance.
Performance isn’t just about arms and legs. Two lesser-known areas also show chiropractic benefits:
- Bite Strength: Research has shown increases in bite force following chiropractic adjustments, suggesting better neuromuscular recruitment [4]. For athletes, this may be indicative of more efficient power transfer throughout the body, though we need more research to support this potential impact.
- Pelvic Floor:Often associated with continence or postnatal recovery, the pelvic floor also plays a vital role in core stability, breathing mechanics, and force transfer between the upper and lower body. A study by Kelly Holt found that women with pelvic floor dysfunction showed improvements in muscle control after chiropractic care. This was another confirmation that better communication between the brain and muscles may be occurring post-chiropractic adjustment.
Together, these findings show that chiropractic influences more than just back and neck pain, it influences the way the brain drives the muscles. It’s exciting, and it’s easy to see how this might impact athletes. But larger studies along those lines are yet to be done – especially when it comes to paediatric chiropractic care, which is an area with a lot of interest, and a lot of scrutiny.
The Case of the Swimmer
In the APCJ case, a competitive male swimmer presented with spinal and postural issues. Over the course of chiropractic care, not only did his symptoms improve, but his athletic performance also lifted. [1] For swimmers, where fractions of a second win races, even slight improvements in muscle recruitment or reaction time can be the difference between silver and gold. In this case, he went from being “average” in his category to being selected for the state team.
Yes, training can help. But it is unlikely to see such a lift as in this case report where, at the beginning of care, one particular race showed a 20-second improvement in swim time. In the span of a short race, that is a big lift.
The swimmer’s case mirrors what research has already begun to show: chiropractic doesn’t just reduce pain. It can impact the way the brain drives the muscles, and that can result in many changes.
The nervous system doesn’t only coordinate movement—it also governs how we feel, focus, and recover. Haavik’s more recent work has shown that chiropractic care can change activity in the Default Mode Network (DMN), the brain network involved in self-reflection, mood, and well-being. Changes in DMN activity after chiropractic care have been associated with reduced pain, improved sleep, and decreased anxiety and depression symptoms. [5]
This means chiropractic may influence both physical and mental aspects of performance. The neuroscience suggests that this isn’t just placebo—it’s rooted in measurable brain changes.
So, what does this mean for athletes and everyday people alike?
- For elite athletes, chiropractic may help maximise power output, reaction times, and recovery.
- For everyday performers – parents, office workers, retirees – it may mean more energy, less pain, better posture, and a body that responds when it’s needed.
Haavik’s studies on sensorimotor integration also highlight that even people with subclinical neck pain (pain that isn’t yet severe enough to seek treatment) can have disrupted brain–body communication. Chiropractic care has been shown to restore sensorimotor function in such cases [2].
In other words, chiropractic care isn’t just for when you’re in pain. It’s about keeping the nervous system primed so you can perform at your best in whatever arena life requires – whether that’s a swimming pool, a boardroom, or the playground with your kids.
The swimmer’s case adds to a growing evidence base that chiropractic care has far-reaching effects on human performance. By restoring clear communication between the brain and body, adjustments may unlock improvements in strength, coordination, balance, mood, and even recovery. As research continues to deepen – with tools like EEG, reflex testing, and brain imaging – we’re beginning to see just how integral the spine and nervous system are to both performance and quality of life.
It’s a reminder that health isn’t just about being free from pain. It’s about being free to perform, whether that’s breaking records, playing with your kids, or simply living with more energy and ease.
References
- Luu, T. (2025). Improvement in swimming performance following chiropractic care: A case report. Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal, 6(1). https://www.apcj.net/papers-issue-6-1/#LuuSwimmer
- Haavik, H., & Murphy, B. (2012). The role of spinal manipulation in addressing disordered sensorimotor integration and altered motor control. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 22(5), 768–776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.02.012
- Haavik, H., Niazi, I. K., Jochumsen, M., & Türker, K. S. (2017). Chiropractic spinal manipulation alters central motor control and cortical drive to muscles. Experimental Brain Research, 235(3), 895–906. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-016-4845-9
- Haavik, H., Holt, K., Niazi, I. K., Jochumsen, M., & Türker, K. S. (2021). Chiropractic spinal manipulation alters maximum bite force. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 44(7), 535–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2021.04.004
- Holt, K., Haavik, H., Lee, A., Murphy, B., & Elley, C. R. (2019). Effectiveness of chiropractic care on pelvic floor muscle function: A pilot study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 25(6), 635–642. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0304
- Haavik, H., Niazi, I. K., Amjad, I., Kumari, N., Ghani, U., Ashfaque, M., Rashid, U., Navid, M. S., Kamavuako, E. N., & Pujari, A. N. (2024). Neuroplastic responses to chiropractic care: Broad impacts on pain, mood, sleep, and quality of life. Brain Sciences, 14(7), 1124. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14071124
