What is Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care?

WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE?

Upper cervical chiropractic practitioners focus on very specifically and gently adjusting the Atlas vertebra, bringing it back to its proper position. The Atlas, or the topmost bone in the spine, located just below the brain stem­–is the first of the 7 vertebrae in the spine known as the cervical spine (C spine). Thus, the Atlas is also called C-1.

The Atlas vertebra gets its name from the mythical Greek hero Atlas, who was forced–by the god Zeus–to bear the sky on his shoulders; the Atlas vertebra, in similar fashion, supports the weight of the head. The Atlas is the only vertebra that does not have a disc above or below it; thus, the Atlas is the only freely movable vertebra in the spine. This movement allows the skull to rotate, but because of this movement, is also subject to injury and easy misalignment. When the Atlas misaligns, compression of the brainstem may result; this compression can affect nearly every body function. Thus, the Atlas must be perfectly aligned to enable the brain to properly communicate with the rest of the body.

Many of the symptoms that occur lower down the spine (in the lower back, or lumbar spine, for example) are caused by a subluxation, or misalignment, higher up–at the Atlas vertebra. Thus, attempting to restore nerve flow to individual nerve roots in the lower spine cannot be effective if the Atlas and cervical spine are not receiving a normal nerve supply.

Why choose Upper Cervical Chiropractic care?

When most people think about traditional chiropractic care, they think of neck pain, back pain, or muscle aches. At UCC-NY, we are able to naturally restore the health to individuals suffering from thousands of different health issues. This restoration of health is accomplished by using the procedure to restore proper body balance. With proper body balance, the nervous system will function optimally and the body can begin to heal naturally, without the use of dangerous drugs or surgery. As practitioners of upper cervical chiropractic treatment, we believe in the holistic approach to health–treating the whole person and not just chasing after symptoms.

Using state-of-the art diagnostic technology we are able to detect and then correct what we consider to be the fundamental cause of many health problems–atlas subluxation.

SOURCES:
Peterson DH, Bergmann BF. Chiropractic Technique: Principles and Procedures. 2nd ed. St. Louis : Mosby, 2002.

Palmer College of Chiropractic Web site. Available at: http://www.palmer.edu. Accessed March 13, 2005

Paraspinal digital infrared imaging (DII) is a diagnostic technique that uses a small, hand-held device to measure and compare skin temperature–near the spine–for any signs of nervous

Imaging is taken before and after your first adjustment and throughout your treatment to ensure proper care is administered.

The imaging equipment is available in the office so you don’t have to go back and forth scheduling visits at third party medical facilities.

Similar to infrared imaging, Paraspinal EMG uses the same device, but in the case of EMG, measures muscular electrical signals.

The Paraspinal EMG is a specialized technique designed to evalutate groups of parspinal muscles.

Unlike standard x-rays, precision laser-aligned x-ray equipment is carefully adjusted for accuracy using laser technology and is held in place by a special frame to maintain that adjustment.

During a patient’s initial examination, it is important to determine the exact position of the upper (cervical) spine. Standard x-ray technology is inadequate for this purpose because it is less accurate. The image may be distorted if, for example, the equipment is not aligned properly or if the patient is not positioned correctly. In evaluating many conditions, this distortion is not significant. In a spinal evaluation, however, accuracy is of the utmost importance. Even a slight distortion of the image can lead to inaccurate diagnosis and faulty treatment.

Unlike standard x-rays, precision laser-aligned x-ray equipment is carefully adjusted for accuracy using laser technology and is held in place by a special frame to maintain that adjustment.

The x-ray images are analyzed according to strict guidelines to determine whether any subluxations (displacements) of the upper spine are present. Every effort is made to keep x-ray exposure to a minimum.