We Came to the Chiropractor for the Back Pain. We Stayed for the Calm.
GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR SPINE — AND MAYBE YOUR MOOD
Your mood called — and your spine might have something to say about it
At Executive Chiropractic of Iowa, we hear it all the time: 'I don't know what you did, but I feel so much better.' You came in for your neck pain or back pain — but something else shifted too. Turns out, researchers are noticing something, too.
THE BODY-MIND CONNECTION IS REAL
We tend to treat the body and mind as separate things — the chiropractor manages the back, the therapist handles the stress. But your nervous system doesn't see it that way. More and more, researchers are finding that physical, hands-on approaches like the gentle delivery of spinal manipulation with Cox® Technic here at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa may have farther-reaching effects on how we feel emotionally and mentally, too.
WHAT THE RESEARCH IS FINDING
Three recent research reviews caught our attention — and honestly, we think they'll catch yours too. A 2026 systematic review by Schulz & Huzij looked specifically at manual therapy and depression, finding encouraging patterns across multiple studies. (1) West & Huzij published a companion review focused on anxiety, with similarly hopeful outcomes. (2) A 2025 analysis by Gordon and colleagues looked across multiple trials and found something pretty wonderful — people receiving hands-on care were feeling meaningfully better, with real reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress. (3) These aren't small, fringe studies — they're rigorous reviews of multiple trials, and the findings are regular enough to get people in the research world genuinely excited.
A QUICK, HONEST NOTE
We want to be upfront: this research is promising, not a prescription. Chiropractic care isn't a replacement for mental health treatment — especially if you're working with a therapist or psychiatrist, keep doing that. What this research does imply at is something many of us already feel intuitively: taking care of your body is part of taking care of your whole self. Whether you're a longtime chiropractic patient at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa or just curious, we're always happy to talk about how chiropractic care fits into your bigger picture of health — mind included.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa AND COME AS YOU ARE
You don't need to have it all figured out before you walk through our door. Whether you're dealing with a stiff neck, chronic stress, or just looking to feel more like yourself — we're here for all of it. Let's figure out what works for you.
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Christine Goertz, esteemed chiropractic researcher now at Duke University, on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she discusses how to “take your back back” with chiropractic care. You’ll be ready to have a talk about help for your spine and and mind!
Schedule your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment before life gets too busy. Our gentle, safe treatment with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management may well calm your pain which in turn calms your mind.
