Dr. Heidi Haavik is a chiropractor and neurophysiologist whose work bridges chiropractic care and neuroscience. With a PhD in human neurophysiology from the University of Auckland and decades of clinical and research experience, she has become a leading authority on how spinal function impacts brain activity and overall neurological health. Her research has provided important insights into the mechanisms underlying chiropractic care, emphasising how spinal adjustments influence sensorimotor integration, neuroplasticity, and motor control.
The Focus of Dr. Haavik’s Research
Dr. Haavik’s research primarily investigates how spinal manipulation affects the nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord. Her work combines advanced neurophysiological techniques, including:
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure cortical excitability and inhibition.
Electromyography (EMG) to assess muscle activity and coordination.
Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to track sensory signals from the body to the brain.
Through these methods, Dr. Haavik has demonstrated that spinal function is closely connected to brain function and overall neurological performance, providing scientific support for chiropractic care as a neurological intervention.
Key Findings from Dr. Haavik’s Research
1. Spinal Manipulation Influences Cortical Function
Dr. Haavik’s studies show that after a cervical spine adjustment, the brain areas responsible for controlling muscles work more efficiently.
What This Means:
A chiropractic adjustment can help your brain control your muscles better, making your movements smoother and more coordinated.
2. Enhancement of Sensorimotor Integration
Sensorimotor integration is the process by which the nervous system converts sensory information into coordinated motor actions. Dr. Haavik’s research indicates that spinal dysfunction can disrupt this process, leading to poor posture, impaired balance, and reduced fine motor skills. Her studies reveal that spinal adjustments can restore sensorimotor integration, improving how the brain interprets sensory signals from the body to produce precise, coordinated movement.
What This Means:
Adjustments can help your body “listen” to your brain more clearly, which improves balance, posture, and coordination.
3. Neuroplasticity and Brain Reorganisation
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganise itself and form new neural connections in response to experience or injury. Dr. Haavik’s research demonstrates that chiropractic care can stimulate neuroplastic changes in the central nervous system, which may:
Enhance motor learning.
Improve reaction times and coordination.
Support rehabilitation from neurological injuries.
What This Means:
Adjustments can help your brain “rewire” itself, which may make it easier to learn new movements or recover from minor injuries.
4. Cervical Manipulation Modulates Spinal Reflexes
Dr. Haavik has shown that spinal manipulation can influence spinal reflexes, particularly through the modulation of inhibitory interneurons in the spinal cord. This suggests that adjustments can alter how the spinal cord processes sensory input, leading to better postural control and muscular coordination.
What This Means:
Chiropractic care can make your body’s reflexes sharper and help muscles work together more effectively.
5. Pain Modulation and Central Nervous System Effects
Although Dr. Haavik’s primary focus is neurophysiology, her research also provides insights into how chiropractic care may modulate pain perception. By influencing cortical and spinal processing, adjustments can alter the central nervous system’s response to noxious stimuli, potentially reducing pain sensitivity and improving functional outcomes.
What This Means:
Even if your main goal isn’t pain relief, chiropractic care can help your nervous system feel and respond better, which may reduce aches and make movement easier.
6. Subclinical Neck Dysfunction and Functional Outcomes
A recurring theme in Dr. Haavik’s work is the concept of subclinical dysfunction, where patients may not report overt pain but still have impaired neurological function due to spinal issues. Her research suggests that:
Regular chiropractic assessments and adjustments can help optimise spinal and neurological function.
Improvements in brain function, balance, and sensorimotor integration are possible even in the absence of pain, highlighting the preventive and performance-enhancing potential of chiropractic care.
What This Means:
You don’t have to be in pain to benefit from chiropractic care—adjustments can help your body and brain work better every day.
Integration of Research into Clinical Practice
Dr. Haavik’s findings have significant implications for chiropractic care:
Evidence-Based Adjustments: Chiropractors can use neurophysiological principles to refine adjustments, targeting spinal regions that influence sensorimotor and cortical function.
Functional Assessments: By understanding the neurological impacts of spinal dysfunction, practitioners can evaluate patients beyond pain, considering proprioception, balance, and motor control.
Preventive Health: Regular chiropractic care may help maintain optimal spinal and neurological function, even in asymptomatic individuals.
Broader Implications for Health and Wellbeing
Dr. Haavik’s research demonstrates that the spine and nervous system are intricately connected. Chiropractic adjustments can have far-reaching effects, including:
Enhancing brain function and processing efficiency.
Improving coordination, balance, and posture.
Supporting recovery from musculoskeletal and neurological dysfunction.
Optimising overall performance and wellbeing.
These insights reinforce chiropractic care as a holistic, evidence-informed approach to health, supporting the nervous system’s optimal function.
Chiropractic care isn’t just about fixing aches or back pain. Dr. Heidi Haavik’s research shows that spinal adjustments can help your brain and body work together more efficiently, improve balance and coordination, and keep your nervous system functioning at its best—even if you feel healthy. Adjustments help the nervous system communicate effectively, which can improve everyday function, prevent minor dysfunctions from becoming bigger issues, and support overall wellbeing.
This information aims to summarise her research in a way that is easily digested. This does not consider your personal circumstances and does not substitute advice tailored to you. Please consult one of our chiropractors.
References
Haavik, H., & Murphy, B. (2007). Cervical spine manipulation alters sensorimotor integration: a somatosensory evoked potential study. Clinical Neurophysiology, 118(2), 391-402.
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.
Haavik, H., & Murphy, B. (2011). Subclinical neck pain and the effects of cervical manipulation on elbow joint position sense. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 34(2), 88-97.
Haavik, H., & Murphy, B. (2008). Altered sensorimotor integration with cervical spine manipulation. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 31(2), 115-126.
Haavik, H., & Murphy, B. (2007). Transient modulation of intracortical inhibition following spinal manipulation. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 37(3), 106-116.
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