Chiropractic Subluxation, Emotional Healing and Physical Pain: Exploring the Mind–Body Connection
The relationship between physical health and emotional well-being has long been recognized across medical, psychological, and holistic traditions. Within chiropractic philosophy, this connection is often discussed through the concept of chiropractic subluxation and its potential influence on emotional healing. Many patients and practitioners find value in understanding how spinal health, the nervous system, and emotional stress intersect.
Table of Contents
Understanding Chiropractic Subluxation
Chiropractic subluxation is thought to involve subtle misalignments or motion restrictions that interfere with normal nerve communication. Chiropractors propose that because the spine protects the spinal cord and nerve roots, changes in spinal function may influence how the body processes information and responds to internal and external stressors.
Emotional Pain and the Nervous System
Emotional pain, such as stress, anxiety, grief, or unresolved trauma, has clear physiological correlates. Chronic emotional stress can activate the sympathetic “fight-or-flight” response, elevate cortisol levels, alter muscle tone, and change breathing patterns. Over time, these responses contribute to muscle tension, postural changes, and heightened pain sensitivity.
The nervous system plays a central role in this process. Emotional experiences are processed in the brain but expressed throughout the body via neural, hormonal, and muscular pathways. This is why emotional distress manifests physically as headaches, neck and back tension, gastrointestinal issues, or fatigue.
The Link Between Subluxation and Emotional Pain
Unresolved, or worse, active denial or suppression of past or current emotional damage, stress, and pain develops into persistence of the subluxated state through sustained muscle tension and altered movement patterns. Simply put, denial blocks healing by locking the physical pain, symptoms, and disease in place. Conversely, subluxation perpetuates emotional discomfort by maintaining a state of nervous system imbalance. The reality is that physical and emotional stress form a feedback loop: emotional strain affects the body, and bodily dysfunction reinforces emotional distress. Patients report changes in mood, relaxation, and mental clarity following chiropractic adjustments. These experiences are associated with the neuropsychophysiological effects of the chiropractic adjustment, including altered sensory input, reduced muscle guarding, and activation of parasympathetic (calming) responses. While these outcomes should not be viewed as treatment for mental health conditions, they highlight the interconnected nature of subluxation, mind, and body.
A Holistic, Integrative Perspective
Chiropractic recognizes that physical, psychological, and social factors all influence health. Clearing the subluxated state serves as an invaluable component of emotional healing and complements other emotional healing methods such as counseling, mindfulness, and exercise.
It is essential to approach emotional pain and healing with appropriate support. Chiropractors do not diagnose or treat mental illness, but they work collaboratively with mental and emotional healthcare professionals.
Conclusion
The relationship between the chiropractic subluxated state and emotional healing reflects the inseparability of mind and body. Many individuals find that healing past and current emotional pain and damage positively influences how they heal and feel physically. Thoughtful, empathetic, whole-person, healing-focused chiropractic care, integrated with other whole-person, healing-focused disciplines, plays a vital role in supporting overall emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being and well-deserved quality of life.
With love and respect for your healing,
Dr. Gerard Perrella, DC
Dr. Gerard Perrella was drawn to becoming a chiropractor after successful treatment of a spinal injury that he incurred from playing football in junior high school. Unable to be helped by an orthopedist, a neighbor recommended he see a Doctor of Chiropractic. After just a few visits, the injury had healed, and other health issues were improving. He quickly realized that chiropractic offered so much more than just pain relief.
Dr. Perrella completed his pre-Chiropractic studies at New Mexico State University, majoring in electrical engineering and chemistry, and received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College (NYCC). Shortly after graduating, he was asked by the college to train as the first chiropractic resident in the history of the profession. After successfully completing the residency program, he was asked to stay on as an associate director at NYCC's Greenvale Outpatient Facility, where he assisted in the training of hundreds of Chiropractic interns. During this period, Dr. Perrella was exposed to numerous Chiropractors with 20, 30, and 40 years of practice experience. They instilled in him a passion and love of Chiropractic that has remained with him throughout his career.
After practicing in New York and North Carolina, Dr. Perrella moved to New Jersey and is very excited to be joining the Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth team. He is excited to join a practice that is committed to practicing traditional subluxation-based Chiropractic. Dr. Perrella firmly believes in Chiropractic's role as a “total-body” healing and wellness delivery system that frees the ability of mind and body to express their fullest potential through the correction of vertebral subluxation.
In his spare time, Dr. Perrella enjoys his practice of Taiji, Yoga, Qigong, Meditation, cooking and continued personal and professional development.
