Nervous System Regulation
What Does It Actually Mean?
“Nervous system regulation” is a phrase we hear a lot — but what does it actually mean?
At its simplest, regulation is your nervous system’s ability to respond to what is happening around you, adapt appropriately, and then return towards a more settled state when the demand has passed.
It doesn’t mean being calm all the time. Stress is a normal and important part of life. Our bodies are designed to move between periods of activity, alertness, rest and recovery.
The goal isn’t to eliminate stress. It’s to have the capacity to move through it and adapt.
Your nervous system is constantly responding
Your nervous system is your body’s communication network. It includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves, and helps coordinate everything from movement and sensation to many automatic processes happening without conscious thought.
One part of this system is the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which helps regulate functions such as heart rate, breathing, digestion and blood pressure.
Two important branches are:
The sympathetic nervous system — often described as the body’s “gas pedal”. It helps us become alert and ready to respond when there is a challenge or demand.
The parasympathetic nervous system — often described as the “brake pedal”. It supports functions associated with rest, digestion and recovery.
Neither side is good or bad. We need both.
A flexible nervous system can appropriately increase activation when something requires our attention, then move back towards rest and recovery afterwards.
So, what does dysregulation mean?
Dysregulation is a broad term used to describe difficulty adjusting physiological or emotional responses to changing demands.
Someone experiencing periods of dysregulation may feel highly activated — restless, overwhelmed, tense or constantly “on”. At other times, they may feel flat, withdrawn, fatigued or disconnected.
In children, parents might notice things such as difficulty settling after a big day, becoming overwhelmed by sensory input, struggling with transitions or needing more support to return to a settled state.
Importantly, these experiences are not specific to nervous system dysregulation and can occur for many reasons. Persistent or concerning changes should always be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Think of regulation as adaptability
Rather than thinking of a “regulated” nervous system as one that is always calm, we prefer to think about adaptability.
Life naturally asks us to shift gears.
A child might need energy and focus for school, excitement for sport, calm for dinner and the ability to wind down before bed. An adult might move between work deadlines, exercise, parenting, social connection and sleep — sometimes within the same few hours.
Regulation is about having the flexibility to respond differently to each of those situations.
This is also why two people can experience the same situation very differently. Our response can be influenced by sleep, previous experiences, environment, current stress, physical health and many other factors.
What about the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is one of the major nerves involved in parasympathetic nervous system activity. It travels from the brainstem through the neck and into the chest and abdomen, communicating with structures including the heart, lungs and digestive system.
Because of these widespread connections, vagal activity is one component of the body's broader autonomic regulation.
You may also hear the term vagal tone discussed alongside heart rate variability, stress and regulation. These are useful concepts in nervous system research, but they shouldn’t be interpreted as a standalone diagnosis or a simple measure of whether someone is “regulated” or “dysregulated”.
What is Heart Rate Variability?
Heart Rate Variability, or HRV, refers to the natural variation in time between consecutive heartbeats.
Your heart isn’t designed to beat at perfectly even intervals. Those small variations are influenced by the autonomic nervous system and can provide information about autonomic activity and adaptability.
HRV can be influenced by many things, including age, breathing, physical fitness, sleep, stress, illness and medications. For this reason, it needs to be interpreted in context rather than used on its own to diagnose a health condition.
Supporting regulation in everyday life
There isn’t one single tool that “regulates” the nervous system. Often, it’s the simple and consistent things that help create supportive conditions for the body.
This can include:
regular movement and outdoor time
adequate and consistent sleep
predictable routines
slow, comfortable breathing
time away from constant stimulation and screens
supportive relationships and connection
age-appropriate sensory and movement experiences
adequate nutrition and hydration
co-regulation between children and trusted adults.
Different people will respond to different strategies, and what feels regulating for one person may not feel the same for another.
Where does chiropractic fit?
At Restore, our role as chiropractors is not to diagnose or treat “nervous system dysregulation” as a medical condition.
Chiropractors assess the neuro-musculoskeletal system, including spinal movement, muscle function and other relevant clinical findings. Chiropractic care may form one part of a broader approach to supporting physical function and wellbeing.
Where appropriate, we may also use INSiGHT scanning technology as an additional assessment tool. Depending on the scan being used, this can provide information about measures such as muscle activity, skin temperature patterns or heart rate variability.
These scans do not diagnose medical conditions, nor do they tell us that a particular symptom has been caused by the nervous system. Instead, they provide additional information that can be considered alongside your history, examination and clinical presentation.
Supporting the whole person at Restore
At Restore, we love helping families better understand the relationship between the brain, body, movement and everyday stress.
But nervous-system health is only one part of the picture.
Depending on what's happening, appropriate support may also involve your GP, paediatrician, psychologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech pathologist, dietitian or another healthcare professional.
Our role is to listen, complete an appropriate chiropractic assessment, explain our findings clearly and determine whether chiropractic care has a reasonable role to play.
Because understanding your nervous system shouldn't be about finding another thing that's “wrong”. It should help you better understand your body, your child and what support may be appropriate.
Important information
This article provides general educational information and does not diagnose nervous system dysregulation or any medical, psychological or developmental condition. If you or your child has persistent or concerning physical, behavioural, developmental or mental-health symptoms, seek advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
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Original author: Dr Tony Ebel, DC, CPPFC, CCWP
Reviewed by: Erin Black
Original publisher: PX DocsMcCraty, R., & Shaffer, F. (2015). Heart Rate Variability: New Perspectives on Physiological Mechanisms, Assessment of Self-Regulatory Capacity, and Health Risk. Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
Thayer, J. F., Åhs, F., Fredrikson, M., Sollers, J. J., & Wager, T. D. (2012). A meta-analysis of heart rate variability and neuroimaging studies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.
Laborde, S., Mosley, E., & Thayer, J. F. (2017). Heart Rate Variability and Cardiac Vagal Tone in Psychophysiological Research. Frontiers in Psychology.
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Autonomic Nervous System – StatPearls.
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Neuroanatomy, Cranial Nerve 10 (Vagus Nerve) – StatPearls.
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) & Chiropractic Board of Australia. Advertising and professional guidelines for registered health practitioners.
Original Article
Adapted from Nervous System Dysregulation: A Complete Guide for Parents by Dr Tony Ebel, DC, CPPFC, CCWP, originally published by PX Docs