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One of the most common reports after an adjustment is better sleep.
This holds true for everyone from newborn babies to their grandparents. Is there a "sleep adjustment" that holds the key? Not so much. Chiropractors don't treat any diagnosis or condition - including poor sleep. We do something far better: support your body, which already has the capability to heal and self-regulate.
When a joint is misaligned or not moving properly is creates stress in the nerves, the connection between the brain and the rest of the body. We call this a subluxation. The stress in the body from that subluxation interferes with optimal function throughout the entire body. This is why we evaluate your whole spine and make adjustments where they are needed, which may be in a different place than where you are experiencing a symptom.
Many of the common symptoms that arise from this subluxation stress in the body interfere with sleep. In babies we often see stress resulting in colic, constipation, difficulty feeding. In children we see difficulty regulating emotions, digestive issues, poor balance and coordination, and in adults we find that many of these issues they had from infancy are still present, they've just taken on different forms as they body adapts to changing environments.
When we have sleep disturbance, we absolutely check the whole spine because stress in the nervous system makes it more challenging for the body to shift from a dominant sympathetic (fight or flight) state and into a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state.
We also pay special attention to the upper cervical vertebrae - the bones in the top of your neck. The spinal cord is the extension from your brain and it is protected within the bones of the spine. When the bones at the top of your neck or the base of the skull are subluxated, there is stress in the nerves and that will alter the function. The brainstem, just above that top vertebrae, is where the sleep center is located - affecting sleep and arousal. Irritation to that area makes it more challenging not only to fall asleep, but also stay asleep. When specific chiropractic adjustments restore proper alignment and motion to the joints, stress is reduced, and the body is able to regulate sleep without interference.
Is your body communicating that there is stress through poor sleep? It just may be time to have your nervous system checked for subluxation by your chiropractor!