The Body Keeps the Score – and What Chiropractic Has to Do With It

There’s a well-known phrase in health circles that says “the body keeps the score.”It comes from the work of The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, and it points to something many people instinctively feel to be true:

Our bodies remember what our minds may have long moved on from.

Not just major trauma, but the quieter, everyday stresses too. The deadlines. The poor sleep. The years of sitting. The accidents we “walked off.” The emotional load of always being the one others rely on.

Over time, these experiences can shape how our nervous system responds to the world — often without us consciously realising it.

Your Nervous System Is Always Listening

From a chiropractic perspective, this idea isn’t new. Chiropractors have long been interested in how the nervous system adapts to stress — physical, chemical, and emotional.

Your nervous system’s job is protection and survival. When stress is short-lived, that system ramps up, helps you respond, and then settles again.

The challenge comes when stress becomes chronic.

When the nervous system stays on high alert for too long, the body can begin to express that load in other ways:

• Ongoing back pain that doesn’t fully resolve

• Persistent neck pain or tension

• Recurrent headaches

• A sense of being “stuck,” tight, or unable to properly relax

This doesn’t mean the body is broken. More often, it means the system has become very good at protecting — but not so good at letting go.

Chiropractic Isn’t About Erasing the Past

One important clarification: chiropractic care is not about trying to “fix” trauma or remove experiences from the body.

Nothing can undo what has already happened.

Instead, chiropractic focuses on supporting how well the nervous system can process, adapt, and respond now.

Gentle chiropractic care aims to:

• Reduce unnecessary protective tension

• Improve movement and awareness through the spine

• Support the nervous system’s ability to shift out of constant fight-or-flight

When the nervous system feels safer, the body often becomes more adaptable. And adaptability is where real resilience lives.

Why Breath, Movement, and Awareness Matter

Modern trauma research — including the work discussed in The Body Keeps the Score — highlights something powerful:

Talking alone is rarely enough.

Practices that involve breath, movement, and body awareness can play an important role in supporting nervous system regulation. This is why approaches like yoga, breathwork, and mindful movement are increasingly recognised as helpful tools alongside manual care.

They give the nervous system a direct, physical signal that it’s okay to slow down.

Bringing It Into the Real World

This is exactly why we love collaborating with people who share this philosophy.

Later this month, we’re hosting a free evening with Urban Om here at Aceso — a chance to explore yoga, breathwork, and nervous system awareness in a calm, welcoming environment.

It’s not about flexibility.It’s not about performance.And it’s certainly not about “fixing” yourself.

It’s simply about learning to listen to your body a little more kindly.

If your body has been keeping score for a while, this could be a lovely place to start changing the conversation.

📍 Free Community Event at Aceso Chiropractic🧘‍♀️ Yoga & Breathwork with Urban Om⏰ 7–8pm🎟️ Free to attend – booking required (Book Here)

DisclaimerThe content of this blog is for educational purposes and is not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it.