Why I Care About Your Window of Tolerance as a Chiropractor
As a mind-body chiropractor, my focus goes far beyond simply relieving pain. I care deeply about your whole system, and that includes your nervous system. One of the most powerful concepts I work with in practice is the window of tolerance. This refers to the optimal state in which your nervous system can function without becoming overwhelmed. When you’re within your window, you’re calm, grounded, and your body can heal. When you’re outside of it, stress takes over, and that has a real impact on your musculoskeletal system.
When you enter hyper-arousal, your body shifts into fight-or-flight mode. Your muscles tense up, your breath shortens, and your system becomes flooded with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Chronic stress like this can lead to tight shoulders, jaw clenching, headaches, and back pain, symptoms I see daily in clinic.
On the flip side, hypo-arousal is when your nervous system shuts down in response to overwhelm. You might feel disconnected, numb, fatigued, or low in motivation. This state can affect posture, reduce movement, and slow down your body’s ability to process and heal. Over time, both of these states can contribute to dysfunction in the spine and nervous system, keeping you stuck in a cycle of pain and reactivity.
That’s why nervous system regulation is at the core of the care I provide. Chiropractic adjustments help to calm and balance the nervous system, allowing the body to return to a more regulated state. But there’s also so much you can do outside of the treatment room to support this process.
Simple practices to expand your window of tolerance include:
- Prioritising sleep and proper rest
- Staying hydrated throughout the day
- Gentle, consistent movement like walking, stretching or yoga
- Connecting with nature to ground your system
- Taking time for stillness, breathwork or mindfulness
- Doing the deeper emotional work to release held trauma patterns
All of these tools help your body feel safer, more stable, and more resilient, which means less tension, better healing, and a calmer mind.
If you’re ready to work with someone who understands the connection between your spine, your stress, and your story, I’d love to help.
Book your first chiropractic appointment today at Yourhealthnomad Chiropractic and begin your journey to a more regulated, balanced, and embodied version of you.