S
ometimes, in chiropractic offices, the entire focus of concentration is on the physical. But a research study published last year in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia shed light on the impact of adjustments on non-physical aspects of life, specifically creativity and “divergent thinking” (a method of generating creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions).
In the study, researchers tested 10 subjects ranging from 10 to 62 years of age. According to Charles Masarsky, and Marion Todres-Masarsky, seven of the subjects were also experiencing some form of musculoskeletal pain at the time of the study.
Two versions of the standard “alternate uses” test were administered before and one version after a chiropractic adjustment. This test is an established outcome measure related to divergent thinking. Each subject was also interviewed two to eight days after the adjustment, to ascertain their own impressions of any changes they experienced in the realm of creative thinking.
The chiropractic adjustments were performed according to Diversified and Applied Kinesiology protocols. Six of the ten subjects experienced a post-adjustment improvement in their performance on the alternate uses test. Interview responses indicated new directions in a real-world creative task for seven of the subjects, and renewed energy towards a creative project already planned for six subjects.
None of the subjects gave any indication on interview that their creativity had suffered in any way. Conclusions: Taken as a whole, the results suggest short-term enhancement of creative thinking following a chiropractic adjustment.
This information will be of particular interest to patients who think the need for chiropractic is finished once physical symptoms are gone. Anyone interested in living life to the fullest – with attention to improving physical, mental and emotional components of well-being – definitely has incentive to make regular chiropractic adjustments a part of the wellness routine.
REFERENCE: Masarsky CS, Todres-Masarsky M. “Effect of a single chiropractic adjustment on divergent thinking and creative output: a pilot study, Part 1.” Chiropr J Aust 2010;40:57-62.