Unlocking the Science Behind Chiropractic Care w/ Dr. Heidi Haavik

Hosted by: Dr. Josh Handt Guest: Dr. Heidi Haavik, PhD – Chiropractor, Neuroscientist, and Global Research Leader Duration: ~53 minutes 🎧 Episode Summary: In this mind-expanding episode of The Human Powered Life Podcast, Dr. Josh Handt sits down with Dr. Heidi Haavik, one of the most influential chiropractic researchers in the world. With over 25 years of groundbreaking work in neurophysiology, Dr. Haavik unpacks the real science behind chiropractic care—how it influences the brain, improves body awareness, and can even affect emotional regulation, chronic pain, and quality of life. Together, they break down the top 10 questions people have about chiropractic, from what adjustments actually do, to how often you should get care, to how chiropractic affects kids, pregnant women, and even the soul. Yes—the soul. If you’ve ever wondered how spinal health impacts brain function, this is the episode that makes it crystal clear—with research to back it up. ⏱️ Timestamped Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction Dr. Josh introduces the season of chiropractic and welcomes Dr. Heidi Haavik. 01:16 – Who Is Dr. Heidi Haavik? Her transition from chiropractor to global neuroscience leader. 02:16 – What Is Chiropractic? How chiropractic improves the brain's ability to perceive the body and environment. 03:54 – What Is a Chiropractic Adjustment? The difference between adjustment vs. manipulation, and how small spinal muscles communicate with the brain. 08:35 – What Conditions Can Chiropractic Help? Why it’s not about treating symptoms—but optimizing brain-body function. 16:55 – Is Chiropractic Safe? Debunking myths around safety, stroke fears, and why adjustments are safer than your drive to the office. 22:07 – Chiropractic vs. Medical Treatments Why chiropractic is more like exercise or meditation—foundational health, not just a fix. 29:24 – The Latest in Chiropractic Research Prefrontal cortex changes, anxiety and depression improvements, and real-time brain function studies. 29:48 – Inside the World's Largest Chiropractic Research Center How Dr. Haavik grew her research team from 1 to 30+ researchers and 47 active studies. 30:25 – How Adjustments Impact Brain Function The “default mode network,” proprioception, and identity—the neuroscience behind transformation. 31:23 – Autopilot and Pain: Rewiring the Brain How chiropractic resets the nervous system to stop the “autoplay” of pain and faulty programs. 32:53 – The Power of the Adjustment Brain scans show massive oxygenation increases in the prefrontal cortex within seconds of an adjustment. 33:33 – What to Expect During a Visit From exam to adjustment, what it feels like and what changes to expect. 37:10 – How Often Should You Get Adjusted? The real answer: How often do you want your brain and body functioning at 100%? 50:18 – Chiropractic for Kids and Pregnancy Why care should begin pre-conception and how it supports development and wellbeing. 52:21 – Final Thoughts, Resources & Next Steps How to connect with Dr. Haavik, support chiropractic research, and dive deeper into the science. 🔗 Featured Resources: 📘 Book: The Reality Check by Dr. Heidi Haavik – Available on Amazon 🌐 Website: HeidiHaavik.com 💡 Public + DC Resource Library: https://chiroshub.com/ 🤝 Support the Future of Chiropractic Research:https://chiropracticfuture.org/ 🧠 Learn More About the New Zealand College of Chiropractic Research Centre: nzchiro.co.nz 💬 Quote of the Episode: “It sounds to me like what you are really touching is a person’s soul.” – Dr. Heidi Haavik’s father, after hearing her present on chiropractic and brain science 🙌 Connect with Dr. Josh Handt & The Human Powered Life: 🌐 NewYorkChiropractic.com 📱 Instagram: @drjoshhandt 🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! 📣 Like what you heard? Please rate, review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear that chiropractic is about more than pain—it’s about power.