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. 2024 Nov 7;14(11):1124.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci14111124.

Neuroplastic Responses to Chiropractic Care: Broad Impacts on Pain, Mood, Sleep, and Quality of Life

Heidi Haavik  1 , Imran Khan Niazi  1   2   3 , Imran Amjad  1   4 , Nitika Kumari  1   2 , Usman Ghani  1   2 , Moeez Ashfaque  5 , Usman Rashid  1 , Muhammad Samran Navid  6 , Ernest Nlandu Kamavuako  7 , Amit N Pujari  5   8 , Kelly Holt  1
Affiliations

Neuroplastic Responses to Chiropractic Care: Broad Impacts on Pain, Mood, Sleep, and Quality of Life

Heidi Haavik et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of chiropractic care using resting electroencephalography (EEG), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), clinical health assessments (Fitbit), and Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29).

Methods: Seventy-six people with chronic low back pain (mean age ± SD: 45 ± 11 years, 33 female) were randomised into control (n = 38) and chiropractic (n = 38) groups. EEG and SEPs were collected pre and post the first intervention and post 4 weeks of intervention. PROMIS-29 was measured pre and post 4 weeks. Fitbit data were recorded continuously.

Results: Spectral analysis of resting EEG showed a significant increase in Theta, Alpha and Beta, and a significant decrease in Delta power in the chiropractic group post intervention. Source localisation revealed a significant increase in Alpha activity within the Default Mode Network (DMN) post intervention and post 4 weeks. A significant decrease in N30 SEP peak amplitude post intervention and post 4 weeks was found in the chiropractic group. Source localisation demonstrated significant changes in Alpha and Beta power within the DMN post-intervention and post 4 weeks. Significant improvements in light sleep stage were observed in the chiropractic group along with enhanced overall quality of life post 4 weeks, including significant reductions in anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that many health benefits of chiropractic care are due to altered brain activity.

Keywords: PROMIS-29; chiropractic; default mode network (DMN); electroencephalogram (EEG); somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Data Analysis Pipeline for EEG.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Source localisation (Forward and inverse modelling).
Figure 3
Figure 3
CONSORT flow diagram.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Between-group Spectral analysis. Red indicates increased activity and blue indicates decreased activity. Asterisks represent significant clusters.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Resting state EEG connectivity analysis of the chiropractic group. A significant increase in connectivity is shown as red. R ICC—Right Isthmus Cingulate Cortex; L ICC—Left Isthmus Cingulate Cortex; R LOF—Right Lateral Orbitofrontal; L LOF—Left Lateral Orbitofrontal; R MOF—Right Medial Orbitofrontal; L MOF—Left Medial Orbitofrontal; R PCC—Right Posterior Cingulate Cortex; L PCC—Left Posterior Cingulate Cortex; R Precun—Right Precuneus; L Precun—Left Precuneus; R ParaH—Right Parahippocampal Cortex; L ParaH—Left Parahippocampal cortex; R RACC—Right Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex; L RACC—Left Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex.
Figure 6
Figure 6
N30 amplitude. (A) The N30 SEP peak amplitude changed from baseline to post intervention session and post 4 weeks of intervention. The error bars represent the estimated mean + 95% confidence interval from the statistical model. (B) Dots represent N30 amplitude from all participants. Boxplots show the median, 25th and 75th percentiles. The distribution plots show the density distribution estimated by a Gaussian kernel.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Pre vs. post comparison for control and chiropractic group in SEPs. A significant increase in connectivity is shown as red and a decrease in connectivity is shown as blue. R ICC—Right Isthmus Cingulate Cortex; L ICC—Left Isthmus Cingulate Cortex; R LOF—Right Lateral Orbitofrontal; L LOF— Left Lateral Orbitofrontal; R MOF—Right Medial Orbitofrontal; L MOF—Left Medial Orbitofrontal; R PCC—Right Posterior Cingulate Cortex; L PCC—Left Posterior Cingulate Cortex; R Precun—Right Precuneus; L Precun—Left Precuneus; R ParaH—Right Parahippocampal cortex; L ParaH—Left Parahippocampal cortex; R RACC—Right Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex; L RACC—Left Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Pre- vs. post 4 weeks comparisons within both groups in SEPs. A significant increase in connectivity is shown as red and a decrease in connectivity is shown as blue. R ICC—Right Isthmus Cingulate Cortex; L ICC—Left Isthmus Cingulate Cortex; R LOF—Right Lateral Orbitofrontal; L LOF—Left Lateral Orbitofrontal; R MOF—Right Medial Orbitofrontal; L MOF—Left Medial Orbitofrontal; R PCC—Right Posterior Cingulate Cortex; L PCC—Left Posterior Cingulate Cortex; R Precun—Right Precuneus; L Precun—Left Precuneus; R ParaH—Right Parahippocampal cortex; L ParaH—Left Parahippocampal Cortex; R RACC—Right Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex; L RACC—Left Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Comparison of sleep stages: light, deep, rapid eye movement (REM)) between groups. Note: Daily sleep time is expressed as a percentage of 8 h.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Total quality of life score between groups.
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References

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