The 2024 Study (Explained Clearly)

Researchers followed 76 adults with chronic low back pain over 4 weeks.

Participants were randomly divided into two groups:

Group 1: Usual Care

Group 2: Usual Care + Chiropractic Adjustments

What Did “Usual Care” Include?

In this study, usual care referred to the standard non-chiropractic treatments typically recommended for chronic low back pain. This included:

• GP-guided advice to stay active

• Prescription or over-the-counter pain medication

• Physiotherapy

• Exercise-based rehabilitation programs

• Referral to a specialist or pain clinic if required

Importantly, the chiropractic group did not replace this care. They received all of the above plus manual high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal adjustments over four weeks.

This makes the comparison meaningful, researchers were not comparing chiropractic to “nothing.” They were examining whether adding chiropractic influenced brain function and health outcomes beyond standard approaches.

What Did They Measure?

Researchers assessed:

• 🧠 Brain activity using EEG

• 💤 Sleep stages using wearable tracking

• 📊 Anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, and quality-of-life scores

What They Found

After four weeks, the chiropractic group showed:

• Significant changes in brain wave activity

• Increased time in light sleep stage

• Reduced fatigue

• Reduced anxiety

• Reduced depression

• Reduced pain intensity

• A clinically meaningful improvement in overall quality of life

This doesn’t mean chiropractic is a treatment for insomnia.

But it does show measurable changes in how the brain regulates itself.

And sleep is a brain-regulated process.

Why Sleep Is a Nervous System Issue

Your sleep is controlled by your central nervous system.

Two systems must work in balance:

• 🔴 Sympathetic = alert, stress, “on” mode

• 🔵 Parasympathetic = recovery, rest, sleep mode

If the shift between these states is inefficient, you may notice:

• Waking at 3–4am

• Trouble falling asleep

• Feeling “wired but tired”

• Jaw clenching

• Neck and shoulder tension

• Sleeping but not feeling restored

Chiropractic adjustments stimulate receptors in the deep spinal muscles. That sensory input travels to the brain and influences how it processes stress and internal body signals.

In this study, researchers observed changes in the Default Mode Network (DMN), a key brain network involved in self-regulation, mood, and internal awareness.

In simple terms?

The brain changed how it was functioning.

What About the Sleep Data?

Over four weeks, wearable tracking showed the chiropractic group had:

📈 Increased light sleep stage duration

Light sleep is important because it is when:

• The brain processes the day

• Hormones regulate

• The body transitions into deeper restorative sleep

Participants also reported less fatigue and improved emotional wellbeing, suggesting changes in nervous system regulation may have influenced how rested they felt.

Reference Haavik, H., Niazi, I. K., Amjad, I., Kumari, N., Ghani, U., Ashfaque, M., Rashid, U., Navid, M. S., Kamavuako, E. N., Pujari, A. N., & Holt, K. (2024). Neuroplastic responses to chiropractic care: Broad impacts on pain, mood, sleep, and quality of life. Brain Sciences, 14(11), 1124. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14111124

Why This Matters for Families on the North Shore

At Kindred Chiropractic in Browns Bay, we are a warm, family-centred practice focused on nervous system health.

We regularly see:

• Children who struggle to switch off

• Teens waking tired despite “enough” sleep

• Parents stuck in stress mode

• Adults with chronic neck tension affecting rest

We don’t claim to cure sleep disorders.

But we do assess spinal function, upper cervical alignment, and nervous system regulation, all of which influence how smoothly your brain transitions into recovery mode at night.

Research like this helps explain why some families notice more settled sleep when under consistent care.

The Big Takeaway

This 2024 study suggests chiropractic care may:

• Influence brain activity

• Improve aspects of sleep

• Reduce fatigue and anxiety

• Improve overall quality of life

It supports the growing understanding that spinal health and brain health are connected.

And brain health influences sleep.

If you’re searching for:

• Family chiropractor Auckland

• Chiropractor for sleep North Shore

• Upper cervical chiropractor Browns Bay

• Nervous system regulation for kids

You’re in the right place.

About the Author

Dr Carita de Jong

Dr Carita de Jong is the owner and principal chiropractor at Kindred Chiropractic, a family-friendly practice in Browns Bay, Auckland. She is a certified Blair Upper Cervical chiropractor and faculty instructor and obsessed nervous system-based care.

Dr Carita has a special interest in supporting families dealing with poor sleep, stress overload, and chronic tension patterns. Her approach combines detailed neurological assessment, upper cervical analysis, and personalised care to help the body regulate more efficiently.

If your child can’t switch off…
If you’re waking at 3am…
If your nervous system feels stuck in “on” mode…

Seeing Dr Carita is often the no-brainer first step for families who want more than just another sleep tip… they want to understand how their nervous system is functioning.