Newton’s 1st Law… the nervous system often stays in its current pattern unless something changes it
Newton’s First Law tells us that “an object in motion tends to stay in motion, and an object at rest tends to stay at rest, —unless acted upon by an outside force.” While this principle started as a concept for physics, it offers a powerful framework for understanding patterns in the developing nervous system of children. In pediatric chiropractic, we often see this “inertia” not just in physical movement, but in neurological patterns as well. A child’s posture, muscle tone, coordination, and even behavioral responses can become deeply ingrained over time. Whether it’s chronic tension, asymmetrical movement, or sensory challenges, the body and brain tend to continue along the same path unless something meaningful interrupts that pattern. As my first chiropractor told me in 1984, “if you want something different, you’ve got to do something different. Chiropractic is that something different!”
This concept of neurological inertia helps explain why many pediatric conditions don’t simply “resolve on their own,” even when parents try multiple suggested therapies. The nervous system, especially in early development, is constantly learning and reinforcing patterns based on past experiences. If a child has adapted to stress, birth trauma, or developmental delays, those patterns can become the default setting—essentially the body’s “resting state.” Without a new input or stimulus, those patterns persist. This is why doing the same sort of therapy for years does not produce new results, unless the practitioner is constantly changing and adapting based on the child’s nerve system and how it is doing. Inertia, in this sense, becomes a barrier to growth and adaptation. But more powerfully, constantly changing the outside force confuses the body and doesn’t allow it to stay in a state of inertia.
Pediatric chiropractic care can serve as that “outside force” described in Newton’s law. Gentle, specific adjustments aimed at improving nervous system function provide new sensory input to the brain, encouraging neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections. This input helps shift the child out of old, inefficient patterns and into more adaptive, organized ones. Over time, as new patterns are reinforced, the child’s system begins to “stay in motion” in a healthier direction. In this way, chiropractic care doesn’t just address symptoms—it helps overcome neurological inertia, creating the conditions for lasting change and development.
Recently a teenager with a history of multiple sports-related concussions who had done all sorts of different therapies with no resolution came to the office. Within several weeks of doing ‘something different’ (gentle chiropractic adjustments and neurological exercises), the neurological inertia shifted and this person has seen dramatic improvement. That is how chiropractic works with Newton’s First Law.
Stayed tuned for Part 2 of this article!
Reference:
Neuroplastic Responses to Chiropractic Care: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1124
