How Time Change Affects Your Nervous System and How Chiropractic Can Help
When the clocks shift for daylight saving time, many of us feel the effects grogginess, irritability, or that sense that our body clock is just “off.” But there’s more going on beneath the surface. The time change can disrupt your nervous system’s natural rhythms, leading to changes in sleep, mood, and even immune function.
Your body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, is regulated by the brain’s hypothalamus. It controls hormone release, digestion, and energy levels throughout the day. When the time changes abruptly, your nervous system must work harder to reestablish balance. This stress response can increase sympathetic nervous system activity the “fight or flight” mode causing tension, fatigue, and decreased focus (Chellappa et al., 2019).
Chiropractic care plays a powerful role in restoring balance to the nervous system. The spine houses and protects the spinal cord, which connects your brain to every organ and tissue in your body. When misalignments, or subluxations, occur often from poor posture, stress, or sleep disruption they can interfere with this communication network. Our Gonstead adjustments help the body transition out of sympathetic dominance and engage the parasympathetic system, the “rest and digest” state (Zemková & Jeleň, 2020).
By improving spinal alignment and nervous system function, chiropractic adjustments can help your body adapt more easily to time changes. Patients often report better sleep, improved focus, and a greater sense of calm following an adjustment signs that their nervous system is finding equilibrium again (Haavik & Murphy, 2012).
So as your body adjusts to the new time, consider scheduling a chiropractic visit. Supporting your nervous system through this transition helps you feel more energized, sleep better, and stay in tune with your body’s natural rhythm no matter what the clock says.
Chellappa, S. L., Schröder, C., Cajochen, C., & Gaggioni, G. (2019). Impact of circadian misalignment on cognitive performance and sleep regulation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, 191. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00191
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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.01.014
Zemková, E., & Jeleň, M. (2020). The effect of spinal manipulation on heart rate variability and stress response. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14, 747. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00747
