When you think of posture, what comes to mind? Probably whether you’re slouching or sitting up straight, right? But at the NeuroLIFE Institute (NLI) at Life University (Life U), posture is far more than just a physical habit – it’s a powerful indicator of brain function and overall health.

Dr. Dom Fetterly, Director of the NLI, and his team look beyond simple muscle strength and weakness. They understand posture as a reflection of the brain’s ability to engage with and adapt to the environment. Poor posture, particularly the forward-flexed or “protective” posture often seen in people with neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease, can indicate more than just discomfort; it may reveal how well the brain is functioning.

“When someone is upright, alert and open, it represents a brain that is actively sending and receiving information effectively,” Dr. Fetterly explains. “When someone is hunched over or stiff, it’s not just about tight muscles – it’s a sign that the brain might be struggling to stay online.”

Chiropractic has long been thought of as correcting misalignments to relieve pressure on nerves. But today’s understanding goes deeper. Chiropractic care, particularly the adjustments performed at the NLI, focuses on restoring movement where it has been lost. That movement is vital – not only for joint health, but for feeding clean, precise information to the brain.

“A joint that isn’t moving well isn’t sending information to the brain properly,” says Dr. Fetterly. “And when the brain lacks input, it fills in the gaps. That can lead to compensation, inefficient movement, and eventually pain or further dysfunction.”

Posture and joint mobility are intimately tied to how the brain processes information. Efficient movement allows the brain to have a better understanding of where the body is in space, leading to better coordination, balance and even mood. This is where neuroplasticity comes in – the brain’s remarkable ability to change and adapt.

The goal at the NLI is not just to treat symptoms but to encourage lasting changes in the nervous system. Even simple movements like walking for 20 minutes a day or doing exercises that promote a “big and tall” posture can improve posture and brain function. These movements help the brain develop new, more effective pathways, essentially rewiring itself for better performance.

At NLI, a common starting point for care is a postural evaluation. While many people seek help due to pain, posture often reveals underlying brain inefficiencies even before symptoms arise. Using tests that challenge how the body understands its position in space, practitioners can assess risk for pain, injury or mood-related conditions.

“Posture gives us clues,” Dr. Fetterly says. “If someone has low muscle tone and is always in a closed-off, protective position, it suggests that the brain is in a defensive mode. Our job is to open up those systems to help them re-engage and navigate the world again.”

Chiropractic care at the NLI is proactive. Rather than telling patients to rest and wait, the team encourages gentle movement and active recovery. Adjustments are seen not as a fix, but as a tool to give the brain new access to information it may have been missing. Whether it’s being able to look up at the trees without strain or walking without having to compensate for stiff joints, the changes that come from improved posture and brain-body communication can be life-changing.

Posture is more than just how you stand; it’s a reflection of how well your brain and body are working together. At the NeuroLIFE Institute, they see posture as a vital sign of neurological health. Through chiropractic adjustments, postural retraining and movement, they help people reconnect with their environments ­– and themselves.

NLI MISSION

Our clinical mission is to restore and optimize brain and neurologic function using non-drug, non-surgical approaches that utilize the body’s innate capacity as a self-developing, self-maintaining and self-healing organism.  We have a dynamic, revolutionary applied clinical neuroscience approach that utilizes emerging technology and innovative thought to maximize your neurologic potential and improve your quality of life.