11/12/2025
Here is an interesting piece of research that looked at how the body responds immediately after an upper cervical chiropractic adjustment.
A small study observed a group of participants who had saliva samples taken before care, 30 minutes after their first appointment and again two weeks later.
Researchers measured something called SIgA, which is an antibody found in saliva that forms part of the body’s natural immune defence.
What the study found
• SIgA levels increased shortly after the first upper cervical adjustment
• Two weeks later, SIgA levels returned close to where they started
• The authors described this as a temporary change and noted that more research is needed
This study does not show whether chiropractic care has any direct effect on immune function, but it adds to the broader discussion about how the body may respond around the time of an adjustment.
If you are curious about how chiropractic fits into your wellbeing routine, our chiropractors are happy to talk through your questions at your next visit.
Reference:
Schalow, P. R., Kimball, K. A., Schurger, F. T., Sooley, G. R., Bales, S. P., Rochester, R. P., Brooks, R. T., & Hunt, J. M. (2021). Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Upper Cervical Chiropractic: A Preliminary Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study. Journal of chiropractic medicine, 20(3), 121–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2021.10.003
**This information is general only, does not make claims about health outcomes and does not take your personal health needs into account.
