Beyond Pain Relief: Does Chiropractic Care Influence Physiology

​​Chiropractic spinal adjustments are widely known for helping with pain relief, improving movement and supporting posture. However, emerging research suggests their effects extend beyond the joint and muscles – influencing biological processes such as stress hormone levels, neuroplasticity markers (the brains ability to adapt), and inflammatory related proteins.
In 2025, researchers led by Amjad and colleagues published a clinical trial in the Public Library of Science, examining whether chiropractic spinal adjustments influence key physiological biomarkers in adults with mild spinal pain.
This 12-week randomised controlled trial involved adults aged 20-60 who were divided into two groups: one group received chiropractic spinal adjustments, and the other received a placebo intervention. The researchers measured several biological markers before, during and after the study to determine whether chiropractic care influenced:

• Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) – a protein linked to neuroplasticity and plays a key role in nervous system health.
• Cortisol – a hormone involved in the body’s stress response
• Inflammatory cytokines -proteins that regulate inflammation.
• Immune cell profiles.

The group receiving chiropractic care showed increased levels of BDNF after 12 weeks of treatment. BDNF supports the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize, therefore higher levels are associated with improved nervous system function and adaptability. This finding suggests spinal adjustments could influence how the brain and nervous system communicate. There were also changes noted in cortisol levels for the group receiving care. Cortisol is often referred to as the “stress hormone” but it plays a broader role in regulating energy, immune function and daily rhythms. Changes in cortisol can reflect altered nervous system regulation rather than simply more or less stress.
Inflammation in the body can be complex; some inflammatory markers help regulate healing and immune responses, while others drive chronic inflammation. There was a reduction in TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, in the chiropractic group. This suggests intervention may influence immune regulation and inflammatory balance.
Our spine houses and protects our nervous system. When spinal dysfunction affects how the nervous system communicates, it can influence broader physiological processes. Improving spinal function through chiropractic treatment can impact how our body and brain regulate stress and inflammation. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting chiropractic care as supporting the whole-body regulation – beyond simple pain relief.
Reference:
Amjad I, Niazi IK, Kumari N, Ghani U, Rashid U, Duarte FCK, et al. (2025) The effects of 12 weeks of chiropractic spinal adjustments on physiological biomarkers in adults: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 20(12): e0338730. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0338730