A 64-year-old preacher with a history of persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib) since he was 16, also had right elbow pain. He had given up sports in high school due to dizzy spells and palpitations during physical or emotional stress, experiencing weekly attacks of weakness and severe tachycardia, sometimes reaching 400 beats per minute. Despite various medications and hospitalizations, his symptoms persisted. Disappointed with traditional treatments, he turned to chiropractic care, intrigued by its potential to alleviate his AFib symptoms.
The chiropractor examined him and found structural shifts in his neck, upper back, and sacrum. Postural changes, muscle spasms, and restricted range of motion were noted. These structural shifts can lead to obstruction of the nerves and it is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct.
Remarkably, following his initial visit, John experienced complete remission of all AFib symptoms, continuing to enjoy a symptom-free life with regular chiropractic maintenance.
The study’s author called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in adults with atrial fibrillation.
Reference: Remission of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in a 64-Year-Old Male Following Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. Robert Saxon, DC & Austin Saxon, DC. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ Volume, 2024.
Atrial Fibrillation – FACTS
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart condition characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can lead to blood clots in the heart, increasing the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. It originates in the heart’s atria (the upper chambers) and is associated with symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and weakness. Factors contributing to AFib include high blood pressure, heart disease, excessive alcohol use, obesity, and chronic conditions like thyroid disorders. Treatment often involves medication to control the heart rate and reduce stroke risk, as well as procedures to restore normal heart rhythm.
Chiropractic care, with its focus on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, offers a complementary approach to co-managing patients suffering from the symptoms associated with AFib. The central premise of chiropractic care is that the nervous system controls and coordinates all functions of the body, and structural shifts in the spine, known as vertebral subluxations, can occur. These shifts can obstruct the nerves and interfere with their function, potentially affecting overall health, including cardiovascular function. Vertebral subluxations may lead to nerve obstruction, and it is this obstruction that chiropractors aim to correct. By removing the structural shifts, chiropractic care improves nerve supply and function, potentially aiding in the co-management of conditions like AFib.
Chiropractic adjustments, particularly those targeting the upper spine, may have a positive effect on the nervous system and thus indirectly influence heart rate and rhythm. While not a direct treatment for AFib, chiropractic adjustments can help in managing the nervous system’s overall health, which in turn may contribute to better cardiovascular function.
Aug 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
I am suffering from afib. I have been diagnosed with cervical degeneration. Medical doctors (and I have seen about 5) have all said the problem is in the heart and only the heart. The heart has an atrial sinus node and it is this that deals with the heart rhythm and only this. The rest of the autonomic nervous system has nothing to do with and cannot be the cause of your AFIB. What do you say? Thanks
Sep 03, 2026 at 2:16 PM
As a NetworkSpinal® Chiropractor, I would say the medical doctors are right that atrial fibrillation is fundamentally a cardiac electrical rhythm disorder, however the statement that the autonomic nervous system has “nothing to do with” AFib is not consistent with modern cardiac electrophysiology. The sinoatrial (SA) node is the heart’s primary pacemaker, but AFib is not simply an SA-node problem. It involves abnormal electrical activity in the atria—often including triggers near the pulmonary veins—and the atrial tissue’s susceptibility to sustaining that rhythm. The autonomic nervous system, including sympathetic and parasympathetic input, can influence heart rate, atrial electrical properties, and the likelihood that AFib episodes are triggered or maintained. (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.303772) I would not tell you that cervical degeneration is the proven cause of your AFib, that chiropractic adjustments can replace cardiology care, or that NetworkSpinal® care can cure AFib. Those claims would go beyond the evidence. I would say this instead: AFib requires ongoing evaluation and management by a cardiologist and/or electrophysiologist. At the same time, the nervous system does influence cardiac rhythm regulation, so it is reasonable to consider whether stress physiology, sleep, breathing, pain, inflammation, autonomic balance, and overall nervous-system regulation may be relevant contributors or triggers for you. But contribution is not the same as proving causation.” The physiology in plain language The heart has its own electrical system, but it does not operate in isolation. The SA node normally initiates the heartbeat. The autonomic nervous system regulates cardiac function through sympathetic “fight-or-flight” and parasympathetic/vagal “rest-and-digest” pathways. Both sympathetic surges and vagal shifts can alter atrial electrical behavior. In susceptible people, those changes can help trigger or facilitate AFib episodes. (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.303772) AFib itself usually reflects more than one factor: genetics, age, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, alcohol, thyroid disease, diabetes, obesity, atrial enlargement or scarring, inflammation, and other cardiac or systemic influences can all matter. So, the most accurate model is not “the heart only” versus “the nervous system only.” It is that AFib is a heart-rhythm disorder that is influenced by the heart’s structure and electrophysiology and by neural, metabolic, respiratory, sleep-related, and behavioral factors. Where cervical degeneration fits There is observational research reporting an association between cervical spondylosis/degenerative cervical conditions and a higher incidence of arrhythmias, including AFib. One population-based study reported an association that people with cervical spondylosis had a higher adjusted risk of AFib than comparison patients. The authors proposed autonomic involvement as a possible mechanism. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6162845/) However, an association does not establish that degeneration in the neck caused the AFib. People with cervical degeneration may differ from others in age, health conditions, activity, pain burden, medications, sleep, and vascular risk—all of which can affect AFib risk. From a NetworkSpinal perspective, I might view cervical degeneration, chronic pain, physical guarding, poor sleep, and persistent stress activation as potential burdens on regulation and well-being. Care is focused on increasing spinal neural integrity, body awareness, function, and coping with stress. When coordinated with medical care for AFib, Chiropractic care provides a multiprong approach to advance overall health and wellbeing.