Does Chiropractic Care Really Boost Immunity?
- Dr. Lucas Marchand
- Mar 13
- 4 min read
For decades, chiropractors have touted the potential immune-boosting benefits of spinal adjustments. The idea makes intuitive sense — if the nervous system controls the immune system, improving spinal alignment might enhance immune response. It’s a compelling pitch, especially in a world where everyone’s looking for an edge against illness. But does the science actually support it?
The truth, as it turns out, is complicated. Some studies suggest that spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) — the core practice of chiropractic care — may stimulate immune activity, while others find no meaningful effect. A closer look at the research reveals a mixed bag of small wins, inconsistent findings, and unanswered questions. So, are chiropractors really hacking the immune system, or is this just another health myth?
The Case for Chiropractic and Immune Boosting
Some studies hint that chiropractic adjustments may enhance certain immune responses — particularly through improved white blood cell activity and stress hormone regulation. The problem? Most of this evidence comes from small studies with limited follow-ups, making it difficult to draw sweeping conclusions.
Neutrophil Activity: A Promising Lead
Neutrophils are the immune system’s foot soldiers — white blood cells that attack invading pathogens head-on. Some research suggests that SMT might give these cells a boost.
In one study, researchers observed increased respiratory burst activity in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) following chiropractic adjustments. Respiratory burst activity is how neutrophils kill pathogens, so an increase could indicate improved immune defense.
It sounds promising — but the study had a small sample size, and the boost was temporary. There’s no evidence that this translates to better long-term immunity or reduced illness.
Cortisol Regulation: Stress Relief or Overreach?
Cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, directly affects immune function. Chronically high cortisol levels can suppress immune activity, leaving the body vulnerable to infections.
Some studies have reported that SMT may lower cortisol levels, suggesting that chiropractic care could help regulate stress and, by extension, strengthen immunity. But the findings are far from consistent.
One study found that cortisol levels dropped after chiropractic adjustments — but others have found no measurable difference. And even when cortisol levels did change, it’s unclear whether the effect was significant enough to impact immune health.
This is where the research starts to falter — even when positive effects are reported, the mechanisms behind them remain poorly understood.
The Case Against Chiropractic as an Immune Booster
For every study suggesting that chiropractic adjustments could enhance immunity, there’s another finding no effect at all. And when researchers have tried to consolidate the evidence, the results have been underwhelming.
Systematic Review: The Evidence Falls Short
A systematic review published in JAMA Network Open looked at multiple studies examining SMT’s impact on immune function. The goal was to cut through the noise and identify meaningful patterns.
The verdict? Insufficient evidence. While some individual studies showed small benefits, the overall body of research was inconsistent and statistically weak. The review’s authors concluded that there’s no solid proof that chiropractic adjustments improve immune function.
This wasn’t a one-off conclusion. Similar reviews have echoed the same message: any potential immune benefits from chiropractic care remain unproven.
Short-Lived Gains and Statistical Noise
Even in studies that report positive findings, the benefits are often fleeting or difficult to measure. Increases in white blood cell count or immune activity tend to be small and temporary — the kind of blip that could be explained by stress reduction or placebo effects rather than any direct physiological change.
Without consistent, reproducible results, these findings carry limited weight
Flawed Studies and Overstated Claims
The studies that suggest a connection between SMT and immune function aren’t just inconsistent — many have been criticized for weak design.
🔹 Small sample sizes — making it hard to generalize findings
🔹 Lack of control groups — raising questions about placebo effects
🔹 Short follow-ups — making it unclear whether benefits last beyond the immediate aftermath of an adjustment
🔹 Failure to account for confounding factors — like diet, sleep, and stress levels, all of which affect immune health
These issues cast doubt on the reliability of the positive findings. And when you remove flawed studies from the pool, the evidence supporting the immune-boosting benefits of chiropractic care becomes even thinner.
The Chiropractic-Immune Link: What We Actually Know
So, where does that leave us? The idea that chiropractic care could enhance immune function is not entirely without merit — but it’s not backed by solid science either. The most generous interpretation is that SMT may provide modest, short-term boosts to immune markers like neutrophil activity or cortisol balance. But meaningful, long-term immune improvement? The evidence simply isn’t there.
Chiropractic care undoubtedly offers other health benefits — reduced pain, improved mobility, better stress management — but when it comes to immune function, the jury is still out. And until more rigorous, large-scale studies are conducted, any claims about immune-boosting benefits should be met with healthy skepticism.
Bottom Line: Chiropractic care might make you feel better — but it probably won’t make you better at fighting off illness. For now, the immune-boosting claims remain more marketing than medicine.
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