Variables That Impact the Results from Upper Cervical Care

Adapted from "THE VARIABLE IMPACT RANGE OF THE ADJUSTMENT" by Dr. Patrick Gentempo 

THERE IS A RANGE IN THE IMPACT THAT AN UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTIC CORRECTION HAS. WHAT ARE THE VARIABLES THAT CREATE THE RANGE?

The skill of the Upper Cervical Doctor in general.

Much like a farmer who only has a limited amount of land in which to plant his crop, the upper cervical doctor is limited by the amount of skill that they have developed to deliver a correction. As the farmer can expand the acreage of his/her farm, so too can the UC doctor or expand the range of his/her skill. It is not a fixed quantity, but one that can and does expand with intention and experience.

The state of the UC doctor at the time of a particular correction.

Although the farmer may have 5 acres of land, in a given year, he/she may not plant all 5 acres. Maybe they plant just 3. In kind, as the UC doctor may have the capacity to deliver the correction on, let’s say, a scale of 100. They may at a given point and time only deliver on say, a level of 70. This is why intention and present time consciousness are so important to the UC doctor.

The parameters of the patient in general.

In general, the patient may be very healthy or very stressed and sick. These parameters will govern the quantitative extent to which the correction may influence a patient. It is established that people who have lost their health in varying degrees can see significant results from corrections.

Further, it is critical to cite that healthy patients, who manage well the 3 dimensions of stress in their life and show limited signs of body imbalance, benefit from the correction. In fact, qualitatively, corrections received while a patient is in this state of well-being are significant. But much like the starving man who needs food, when given nourishment the impact of food on this person is quantitatively greater than it would be on a satiated individual. Again, not that food doesn’t benefit a person that is not starving. In fact, it is better to receive nourishing food regularly while not starving than it is to wait till you starve and then try to eat. In kind, it is better for one to receive a correction in a healthier state than waiting till health deteriorates.

The parameters of the patient at the time of the correction.

A healthier patient may have a ‘bad day’ – or in upper cervical chiropractic terms, an over-stressed day. The range of the impact of the correction in that particular moment will be affected by this. If the over-stressed patient is ‘receptive’ to the correction (which is the result of the office environment, staff, and UC doctor getting the patient to the ‘receptive’ state in preparation for the correction) then the range of impact is substantial. If patient is over-stressed without relief at the moment of the correction, then it would be as trying to correct a turtle through its shell… that range of impact of the correction would be minimized.

So we have these 4 variables that exist at the moment of any particular correction. The interactions of these variables is complex. And we must realize that in upper cervical chiropractic, we look at these corrections in a series; not relying on one particular correction to conclude on the impact of care on a particular person. But rather, we look at a time-series of corrections to assess such.

However, the cumulative total is comprised of the aggregate of the individual corrections. (We will hold aside from this essay what the patient does between visits and what the UC doctor’s process is immediately after the correction. A hint - I am a big fan of something that has all but vanished from practice – the Resting Room.)

With this understanding about the variables related to the range of impact of the correction, what can practitioners do to maximize the results for the betterment of the patient? Where do they have influence?

1) Constantly strive to increase the skill level at which they can deliver their corrections.

2) Inculcate a process in which they bring themselves to a state of extreme focus and intention before each and every individual correction they give every day.

3) Educate their patients and provide leadership, and maybe even provide services, if they are so inclined, related to their lifestyle behaviors outside of the office.

4) Have a process of preparation for every patient, prior to every correction, so that their body is in a ‘receptive state’ prior to being adjusted.

I cite these as actionable steps, not mere theory. Delivering on the goods is something every upper cervical chiropractic doctor should be obsessed with. If you have found a doctor that does this you have a winner on your hands so stick with it as you are very likely to reap significant benefits from care.

Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension and Upper Cervical Care

Upper Cervical Research and Atrial Fibrillation and Hypertension

by Dr. Kevin Lin

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia which can cause palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. Atrial fibrillation can also increase the risk of stoke by seven times over the average population. It is a serious condition that affects over 2.3 million Americans and the latest research indicates that Upper Cervical Care can be effective in providing  a resolution.

The patient in the research article was a 68- year old female that presented with Atrial fibrillation and Hypertension. She initially presented with a blood pressure of 193/98 that was reduced to 124/74 by the second month of Upper Cervical Care. In addition, the patient no longer had occurrences of arrhythmia. In total, the patient only needed 4 corrections over the first two months of care and currently still under care and is no longer on any medication to control her hypertension or her arrhythmia.

Upper Cervical doctors have such good results with heart issues including hypertension and arrhythmia because when a correction is made to the Upper Cervical spine it releases tension and pressure from the brain stem. When the brain stem is free from interference the body is able to function and heal properly in the fashion that the body was designed.

This research article can be found here.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

How To Misalign Your Head And Neck...Let Me Count The Ways

(Editor's Note:  Fifty to be exact and this is far from a complete list but it gets you thinking about why it is important to be checked periodically.)

by Dr. Deborah Sesker

In a perfect world, none of us would have been born by forceps, or by Cesarean, or with the doctor pulling with too much force on our heads.

In a perfect world, none of us would have fallen off the side of the bed when we were two, tripped down the stairs at age eight, or rolled our car in the ditch at eighteen.

But these things happen. And when they do they often stress the muscles and ligaments of the upper neck to the point where the bones misalign and lock-down, placing stress on the spinal column and the delicate nervous system inside.

If we were lucky enough to have our parents take us to an upper cervical doctor at a young age, we might have only lived with our neck misalignment for days, weeks, or maybe a few years before having it properly corrected.

But most of us aren’t, which means many of us live one, two, or six decades before we ever have our atlas unlocked by our upper cervical doctor. By this time ligaments are tightened, muscles have developed amnesia, and we have patterns of movements which place stress on the top of our spine without us even knowing.

All of this is to say, that even a really good upper cervical correction may not hold very well, especially in the beginning of our care. And if we want to make the most of our upper cervical  care, we’re going to need to be careful what we do on a day to day basis.  Here are 50 simple ways you could lose your upper cervical alignment.

    Sleeping on your stomach.

    Sleeping on your side without proper neck support.

    Reading in bed with a book on your chest.

    Watching television in bed with your chin on your chest.

    Falling asleep on the arm of the couch.

    Falling asleep upright in a chair.

    Falling asleep upright in a chair and waking up with an ear resting on one shoulder.

    Falling asleep anywhere other than your bed.

    Propping your head up on your hands, fist or palm under your jaw, for more than a few seconds at a time.

    Looking up for more than a minute at a a time, be it stargazing, birdwatching, or painting a ceiling.

    Stretching your neck by pushing it forward, backward, or pulling it to the the side with your hands.

    Having anyone else push or pull your head to stretch your neck.

    Stretching your neck by rolling your head in big circles.

    Staring down at a Smart Phone screen or tablet for hours everyday.

    Gripping a phone between your ear and your shoulder, instead of using headset or speaker phone.

    Having a small child hang from your neck.

    Having a small child jump on your head while wrestling in the living room.

    Having anyone hang from your neck or jump on your head.

    Whipping your head to the left or right or up and down while dancing, head-banging, or whatever it is you might be doing.

    Flipping your hair repeatedly to remove it from your face.

    Shaking your hair out to help dry it after a shower.

    Turning your head without moving your shoulder to look behind you while driving.

    Driving and hitting anything going more than five miles per hour.

    Driving and getting hit by anyone else going more than five miles per hour, for that matter.

    Getting into your small sedan by craning your neck to one side to sit down over and over again, instead of sitting down facing outward, and then rotating your body inward.

    Getting elbowed in the face while playing basketball, volleyball, tag, or any other amateur sport.

    Standing on your head.

    Heading a soccer ball.

    Smacking your own forehead.

    Falling on an outstretched hand.

    Doing a somersault improperly.

    Doing a cartwheel improperly.

    Doing certain yoga positions improperly.

    Doing ab crunches with your hands behind your head.

    Landing on your head from any height.

    Boxing.

    Martial arts with bad form.

    Bench pressing and watching your biceps, not the bar.

    Squatting and lifting your chin as you fatigue.

    Lifting without tucking your chin at work, at home, or anywhere.

    Getting dental work.

    Popping your own neck.

    Having someone else pop your neck.

    Chewing gum all day.

    Cracking a tooth.

    Deep tissue massage in the neck.

    Getting your hair washed, dyed, or dried backward in a salon sink.

    Getting into a pillow fight.

    Getting placed in a head-lock

    Getting up, turning over, or moving your body by leading with the head and neck, and not with the pelvis.

Does doing any one of these 50 things mean you’re going to need another adjustment? Not necessarily. Everyone is a little bit different. (Some kids have played high school football without losing their alignment.)

But they are common ways that you can set your upper cervical care backwards, and they’re worth considering if you’re having a hard time holding your alignment.

Clark Griswold Needs The Power Turned On!

Adapted from "The Weekly Sticky"

It's a classic holiday movie scene. Clark Griswold stands with bated breath and extension cords in hand as a childlike giddiness overtakes him.  The family drum roll commences, he makes the much anticipated electrical connection and VOILA… nothing happens.

Clark has a power problem.  Although the extension cords are all connected and each individual Christmas light has been inspected with precision, he's still not connected to the source.  It isn't until his wife 'adjusts' an obscure switch in the garage, and turns the main POWER back on that the light show begins.  She'd actually make a good upper cervical doctor!

If your wiring (nerve system) is connected and your body parts have all been dutifully inspected by the best doctor in the world, you still won't function to your potential if you're not connected 100% to your source… the Life creating power that flows from above, down, inside,out.  Make sure you and your family stay connected to it with upper cervical care during this bustling holiday season.  You glow brighter when yourpower switch is on.

Medical Doctor and Upper Cervical Doctors Agree!

Harvard Agrees with Upper Cervical Care

Adapted from "The Weekly Sticky"

At first glance you'd think an upper cervical doctor was responsible for these words.  But they were actually written by a Harvard medical school instructor in the late 1800's.  While this belief is trivialized by the medical and pharmaceutical community today, it remains the core foundation of the practice of upper cervical care.

Upper cervical doctors humbly acknowledge that "the ONLY thing that can heal the body is the Power that created it."  The wisdom Dr. Cabot refers to in his quote is called innate intelligence by upper cervical doctors.   It is the genius of Life that animates our cells, tissues and organs.  It is the coordinating force that maintains our body's intricate chemical balance.  It silently and knowingly orchestrates all steps involved in the healing process from mending a broken bone to putting cancer in remission.  It is in favor of you living, rather than you dying.

The most important job of an upper cervical doctor is to teach you about this great force and keep you connected to it.  If you want to meet the REAL doctor responsible for healing you, take a look in the mirror.  It’s the one staring right back at you.

The History of Upper Cervical Illustrations

by Daniel O. Clark, D.C. Palmer 1947

HIO, the first Upper Cervical Corrective procedure was conceived, developed and perfected by Dr. B. J. Palmer during the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.

In 1946, Dr. John F. Grostic of Ann Arbor, Michigan introduced the second Upper Cervical Corrective procedure to the profession.

Other Upper Cervical Corrective procedures were developed during the following years. With each new Upper Cervical Corrective procedure, the developer thought it was better and more effective than any previous procedure. As a result, each Upper Cervical procedure became an “Island of its own” which prevented unity in the Upper Cervical profession.

During World War ll, I saw extensive combat duty during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest in Germany and the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne. During my combat duty, both my feet were frozen and severely impaired. As a result, I was medically discharged from the Army.

Upon discharge, using the free college education opportunities of the G.I. Bill, I enrolled at Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. During my coursework at Palmer, I attended Dr. John F. Grostic’s second seminar at his office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Present were about ten doctors/students in attendance. I sat next to and made friends with Dr. Ralph Gregory, founder of NUCCA.

After graduation, I had no working capital for an office, so I began my practice in my parent’s home in Anniston, Alabama. I made house calls to build my client base. My first house call was a neighbor who had been treated by three different medical doctors. Her condition was grave and she was not expected to live through the night. I made a single atlas correction, which triggered a miraculous recovery. News of this spread through my hometown (population 35,000) and my practice grew exponentially. Within three years I was able to purchase, equip and staff a 13 bed clinic with two associates on the main street of Anniston, Alabama. Our practice averaged 100 patients a day, five days a week.

Despite my success, my war injuries still plagued me. The strain of standing day after day was debilitating, until finally I was forced to retire from active practice.

In the early ‘90s, all doctors using the various Upper Cervical procedures were referred to as “Chiropractors”. In most cases, doctors mixed their Upper Cervical work with regular Chiropractic adjustments.

Then in 1993, I attended an Upper Cervical doctor’s monthly patient education talk. I realized the doctor was struggling to explain Upper Cervical Chiropractic using regular Chiropractic terminology. His patients, while listening attentively, were missing his important message.

As a result of that monthly patient talk, I was inspired to create my first Patient Education Illustration, which depicts head tilt and a cross section view of the spinal cord at the top of the neck. My wife and I gave this illustration to the doctor for use during his monthly talks in order to simplify his Upper Cervical explanation.

Wide acceptance and strong demand from Upper Cervical doctors for the next sixteen years has resulted in the creation of 11 Upper Cervical Illustrations including new Simplified Upper Cervical Terminology. I’ve created all the educational materials to promote a simple message that helps patients understand all Upper Cervical Corrective procedures were designed and perfected to accomplish the same objective; correct head/neck misalignment to restore efficient brain to body communication.

Just a few short years ago, each Upper Cervical doctor was referred to by the name of his corrective procedure, for example, NUCCA doctor, Grostic doctor, Blair doctor, HIO doctor, etc. In the course of my work, I have come to simplify how we address each other, moving away from uniquely labeling each doctor and instead referring to them as Upper Cervical doctors. This practice has now become common in the profession as Upper Cervical Care and the term has gained wide acceptance. Thanks to all of our hard work, the public now realizes there is a difference between Upper Cervical Care and regular Chiropractic Care.

This public recognition and acceptance has provided more awareness for Upper Cervical during the last five years than all the years prior to the development of the first corrective procedure in the 1930’s.

Today, the Upper Cervical Illustrations and the Upper Cervical Terminology we share is gaining world wide acceptance and our profession is evolving into a prominent and well respected way for people to reach their potential in health but also in life.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

The Big Idea and Upper Cervical Care

The Big Idea

Michael Thomas, D.C.

What I wanted to write about today is an idea.  In (Upper Cervical Care) we have called it “The Big Idea”!  This big idea is present not only in (Upper Cervical Care), but we have certainly based our work upon it.  The idea is that life is sufficient unto itself.  Most often, it does not need any help.  What it needs is the freedom to express itself.  The life inside of us is connected to all of Life.  While this has always been a spiritual concept, it is now also becoming a scientific one.  We are not separate little clots moving about on a dot of dirt in an empty universe.  The picture of us, the Earth and the whole Universe is looking much more like aspects of one immense integrated whole.

The same mathematical equations that can chart fluctuations in the stock market, map out the path of blood vessels in our tissues, and describe the shape of snowflakes, can also chart the distribution of stars in the galaxy.   We are learning that there is communication between molecules, cells, tissues, and within the whole person we had never dreamed existed.  It extends out beyond us to others and perhaps to the farthest reaches of the universe.  Electromagnetic fields extend to infinity.  The matter of this reality seem to be composed of standing waveforms of immense numbers of frequencies all coordinated together.  The better we can look at matter as our microscopes and methods become more sophisticated show that what we thought was solid is not.  It is vibrations that maintain themselves!  Immense amounts of information can be (and are!) contained within the frequencies that create the matter of our interconnected universe.  There are possibilities for our lives and for all of us that we haven’t even begun to dream about yet.

Within this new understanding is (Upper Cervical Care) which has claimed for (almost) a hundred years that this is true.  How we take care of our infirmities is dependent upon how we see ourselves.  In medicine we have based our understanding from a study of what goes wrong.  All of medicine is based in impeding or stopping the process of dis-ease.  To use a big word, it is a pathogenic orientation.  (Upper Cervical Care) is based in the opposite approach.  To use another big word, it is a salutogenic approach.  By this we mean what creates health?  How can we support Life?  What sustains and improves our health?  In (Upper Cervical Care) we find that removing the interference to the power of Life will allow optimal health to return.  We really can trust Life.  One approach chooses to stifle, to palliate, to suppress the symptoms of dis-ease.  The other removes interference and trusts life to find its own way, to unfold as it has for untold millennia.

At this point I want to note that when events occur that cause significant disruption of our health, medicine can be an incredible lifesaver.  When symptoms are going to kill us, suppression or palliation of symptoms is welcomed by everyone.  This is where medicine shines, in the acute care of critically ill people.  This suppressive treatment can save lives and give the innate power of life within each of us the time to rally.  However, as a lifestyle, it leaves much to be desired.  Turning off the symptoms with toxic drugs simply leaves the body with fewer possibilities.  Killing the ‘messenger’ (the symptoms) doesn’t change the reality it just means you are now unaware of it.  Most cardiac medications are suppressive and palliative.  They actually do very little to help any of us regain health.  They just shut the message off.  This isn’t a hopeless statement.  It is a statement that this path does not lead where most people would choose to go if they had a choice.  What choices do we have?

First, we have to choose to be the driver of our own lives.  How many people just passively accept the pills and procedures medicine (and our doctors) demand?  How many of us ask questions?  How many of us do the due diligence to investigate the possibilities for ourselves?  Do you really think that a five minute visit with a doctor is enough for him/her to understand the complexities of how life is breaking down for you?  If we take on the responsibility for our own lives and have sought out answers on our own, then we are in a vastly better position to ask the right questions and make informed choices about our lives and our healthcare.  We have to make the choice to be present in our own lives.  What is more important?

Yes, this means you must make efforts.  It means you must be willing make changes in the way you live your life.  It means you must be patient as the changes you make remake you.  It means you must pay attention to your own life.  Your healthcare should be a partnership between you and your doctors.  I will reiterate, you are the one in charge.  If you are asleep at the wheel then no one is driving the bus.  If you don’t take on this primary responsibility then you can’t complain when life leaves you broken down on the side of the road.

What is the goal of your healthcare?  Do you just want the symptoms to go away?  That is one choice.  It does lead to certain consequences.  In the example of cardiac (heart ) problems, lifestyle, nutritional and stress management can completely turn your health around.  You can regain your health.  Turning life off is not the answer to turning life on.

The Upper Cervical Care you receive in this office is based on removing interference at the base of the brain.  This area is filled with centers that control every aspect of your life.  Restoring normal, balanced function to your brain and nervous system is one magnificent and powerful way to restore health and the life you live.  This is much more than just turning off the pain of sciatica or headaches.  Relief is great but there is more to life than being numb.  This world needs every one of us operating at full capacity.  You have chosen a road less traveled by coming here for care.  I believe that the balance created by the upper cervical adjustment is primary health care.  This is the Big Idea.

Spread the word.

Upper Cervical Care?...What is that?

What is Upper Cervical Care?

By Dr. Eddie Weller

Upper cervical care is a strict discipline of Chiropractic that focuses on the upper most portion of the spine called the cervical spine. This vital area is where the brain and spinal cord meet forming the brain stem.  The brain stem is protected by a vertebra called the ATLAS or cervical vertebrae #1. This small, 2 oz ring-like vertebra is not only responsible for keeping your head on top of your spine, but more importantly, it protects the brain stem at the base of your skull. Upper Cervical doctors focus on this area because just about every nerve in our spine originates at the base of the skull. Most of us would agree that our body was divinely created, and our brain was programmed to send life to the body via the nerve system. If the top vertebra in your spine misaligns, healthy nerve signals from your brain get distorted by compromising your nerve system. This compromised nerve system is the precursor to the body malfunctioning. In time, sickness or disease will ensue.

“What types of conditions are seen?”

There are thousands of titles that man has given the body due to the symptoms that it presents when not functioning properly. I have seen conditions from Headaches to Herniated discs, Colic to Cancers, Reflux to Respiratory issues, Spinal fusions to Scoliosis, and from ADHD to IBS. Regardless of the condition, how long, or the severity of the condition, everyone benefits by having an optimum functioning nerve system.

“What is a good age to begin having my spine checked for upper cervical subluxation?”

Clients range from a few hours old to the elderly. Infants frequently experience birth trauma, toddlers are constantly falling and bumping their head, children play sports and fall off their bicycles, swings, etc. Just about everything we do in life causes some form of stress to our body. Physical, chemical or emotional stressors compromise our nerve system and cause our body to begin to break down. Regardless of one’s age or health condition, everyone benefits from having their nervous system functioning optimally. The upper cervical spinal correction is gentle, precise and tailor-made per each particular spine. At no time will your spine be twisted, popped or snapped, thus making it safe for your entire family.

“Is Upper Cervical Care compatible with my existing healthcare?”

Yes! Restoring nerve and spinal function is consistent with all healthcare options. We encourage you to continue to consult with any of your other healthcare providers to coordinate with your upper cervical doctor for optimum recovery and maintenance. At no time will upper cervical care interfere with any of your healthcare choices. In fact, upper cervical care will only enhance your healing abilities.

Six Big Differences With Upper Cervical Care

Six things upper cervical doctors do differently than other chiropractors

by Anthony Rumsey, DC

Upper cervical doctors are different than other chiropractors. To help you understand the differences, here are the top six ways your upper cervical doctor will be different than any other doctor of chiropractic that you will see.

1. Won’t adjust you without x-rays.

Your upper cervical doctor uses x-rays to create a unique formula to adjust you based on your body’s unique anatomy.

There are many areas of the spine whose motion can help guide a chiropractic adjustment. The low back and the mid-back, for example, have built in motion pathways created by the shape of their joints. But there is a lot more room for movement and error in the upper neck. So it is the perspective of upper cervical doctors that the junction of the head and the neck cannot be accurately adjusted without measuring and noting your unique anatomy on an accurate x-ray.

2. Measure your body’s posture and/or nervous system function every time you come into the office.

As much as possible, upper cervical doctors use objective measures of your body’s function to help guide the clinical decision making process. Your upper cervical doctor may indirectly measure nerve function using paraspinal thermography (heat reading). Or he or she may visualize your in-alignment versus your out-of-alignment posture with a number of different tools that help measure hip height or rotation, shoulder height, and the lean (or list) of the spine.

3. Won’t adjust you at every single visit.

Upper cervical doctors think differently about the purpose of the adjustment than many other chiropractors. In other chiropractic systems, multiple adjustments over many visits are expected, and are helpful. The upper cervical doctor, however, believes that “holding” the adjustment is more important than just receiving it. Healing comes from holding your new alignment. Therefore, the upper cervical doctor will only adjust your upper cervical spine when your body shows objective signs of needing an adjustment.

If your upper cervical doctor is adjusting at every visit for many visits in a row, it is a sign that things are not going as well as they should be.

4. Measure the effectiveness of the adjustment after it is delivered.

Your upper cervical doctor will conduct one or more post-adjustment checks every time you get an upper cervical adjustment according to your adjustment formula. In some cases this may include one or two post-adjustment x-rays. This may be another thermographic scan, a measure of your posture, or some other functional test. Unlike other areas of the spine that snap, twist, and pop when the joint moves, the upper cervical adjustment intends to restore balance to a very delicate area of the body. The upper cervical doctor expects immediate changes in some parts of the body’s functions, and verifies it with a post-adjustment check.

If your upper cervical doctor is adjusting you and just sending you on your way, then he or she might not be an upper cervical doctor.

5. Always deliver a gentle adjustment.

The upper neck is a delicate area of the body. It’s natural for the body to lock up when you sense that someone is going to push, pull, poke or prod this area of neck. Because your body will resist an adjustment that is too strong, upper cervical doctors use gentle re-alignment procedures to bring the head and neck into better balance. Your upper cervical doctor will always deliver a gentle adjustment.

6. Almost always concentrates on head-to-neck balance.

There are many reasons upper cervical doctors started calling themselves upper cervical doctors, in addition to using the word “chiropractor.” One major reason is how few chiropractors there really are using a specific adjusting protocol to re-align the head-to-neck area of the spine. Another reason is because the name fits: upper cervical doctors will spend 99% of their time helping your head-to-neck alignment because of how important it is to your body’s expression of life, health, and longevity…and because of how vulnerable the area is to injury.

Unlike the stronger areas of the spine which have an inter-vertebral disc, there are weaker interlocking joints at the top of the neck. The whole thing mostly stays in balance from strong muscles and ligaments. Like any other muscles and ligaments, these upper cervical muscles and ligaments are subject to accidents and injuries which can threaten the normal balance of the head-to-neck area, and disrupt the body’s normal functions.

Ten Reasons To Try Upper Cervical Care

Ten reasons to try NUCCA upper cervical care

By Dr. Deb Sesker

 

1.

In the united states, upper cervical care has helped hundreds of thousands of people overcome health challenges and live fuller, more enjoyable lives—even when other health strategies have not helped.

2.

While upper cervical care is not a treatment for any one particular condition, a new alignment of the head and neck can remove subtle pressure from the nervous system that results in greater body healing. Over 100 different human conditions have responded to upper cervical care. You can read about some of them on the patient created site called UpCSpine.

3.

Upper cervical doctors work with a powerful area of the body, where the head and neck come into balance with each other. Unlike the stronger areas of the spine which have an inter-vertebral disc, there are weaker interlocking joints at the top of the neck. The whole thing mostly stays in balance from strong muscles and ligaments. Like any other muscles and ligaments, these upper cervical muscles and ligaments are subject to accidents and injuries which can threaten the normal balance of the head-to-neck area, and disrupt the body’s normal functions.

4.

Upper cervical care is gentle, and does not yank, pull, or twist the head and the neck.

5.

Most upper cervical doctors use a non-invasive technique for improving health, which does not include any drugs, surgery, or repeated manipulations of the spine.

6.

Your upper cervical care works with other health care options, so you can continue with your prescribed medications, your physical therapy, your nutritional supplementation, acupuncture, or other body work—just so long as your other practitioners do not manipulate the head, neck, or joints of the spine. If there are any questions about whether your other health care will interfere with the upper cervical protocol, just ask us.

7.

Upper cervical care has been featured on TheDoctors, ABC’s Good Morning America, Discovery Health, and PBS’ Chicago tonight for its ability to help with multiple sclerosis symptoms, head injuries, and high blood pressure.

8.

Upper cervical doctors and research organizations are involved in some of the most interesting studies on the importance of the spine to human health. For a sample of these projects, which look at more than just back pain, visit the Upper Cervical Research Foundation.

9.

Upper cervical doctors are often dedicated to advanced education in caring for the upper cervical spine, and will pursue certification in their upper cervical protocol.

10.

Upper cervical doctors are passionate about their work, and care deeply about helping people get well. With only a few percent of practicing chiropractors using a specific protocol for head-to-neck balance, upper cervical doctors are dedicated to technical excellence, and patient satisfaction with their care.

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(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Can Upper Cervical Care Help Patients With Dizziness?

Can Neck Problems Cause Dizziness?

by Dr. Bill Davis

Vertigo, dizziness, disequilibrium and many other of these types of conditions can be directly related to old head and neck injuries that have never been properly addressed and the underlying damage to the upper neck has led to dysfunction in the ears, the balancing system of the body or both.

When the head or neck is injured the upper neck (Atlas & Axis) frequently become twisted and misaligned leading to a slight displacement of the head…sometimes by as little as 3/4 of a degree.  Once the heavy head (10-14 lbs) is tilting to the side the brain has to compensate for that change through the righting reflex to keep the eyes and ears level with the horizon at all times.

The entire structure of the body will twist and tilt in order to compensate for those upper neck misalignments and head tilt.  Eventually leading to pressure building up into the nerve system.  The area that is first impacted by these problems is the brain stem area, which is just basically a part of the brain that extends down into the spine and connects the the spinal cord.

The brain stem area is a key to the balance of our bodies.  This upper neck area has more pressure sensors the anywhere else in the body that feed information into the brain stem and the brain.  Also the brain stem send messages via the cranial nerves to the ears for balance as well.  Blood flow is also effected when the brain stem function is altered.

When someone is suffering from vertigo, dizziness, or disequilibrium, the brain stem is frequently involved.  Upper neck misalignments alter the brain stem function and lead to these types of problems.  When these old injuries are dealt with by the correction of the head position by a precise upper cervical corrective procedure such as NUCCA, the healing process can begin.

Holding the corrections is the key to healing, not having your spine adjusted 1000′s of times!

Now here is an example…Terry is in property management and is also an avid Bicyclist, riding up to 100 miles per week.  When he began to develop vertigo it was about 2 years after he had taken a pretty significant fall from his bike and had a motorcycle accident that seemed to make the dizziness and vertigo attacks much worse.  To the point that he was concerned even about going up on a ladder at one of his rentals.  Here is his story…

I have been suffering from vertigo (dizziness) for 6-7 years, getting more constant as the years progressed.  I tried everything…Every doctor that I could think of, EENT, general doc, vertigo specialist and finally my last hope, a NUCCA (upper cervical) doctor.  Dr. Davis helped me almost instantly.  I have not been dizzy for 8 weeks!  Thanks Breath of Life for giving me my health back!!!

Now not all dizziness, vertigo and disequilibrium is related to head and neck traumas.  But if you have a history of those types of accidents then an evaluation with a qualifiedupper cervical specialist is very important.  If the underlying cause can be identified, what a difference it can make for your life!

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for dizziness or any other condition, disease or symptom.)

Ear Pain And The NUCCA Correction?

(Editor's Note:  Today's post comes to us from Dr. Zachary Ward and Nucca News, enjoy!)

NUCCA Patient Spotlight

The ear bone's connected to the jaw bone? A surprising change after one NUCCA correction.

Usually ear pain in a child makes doctors think ear infection--but 10 year old Lauren's pain was different. After Lauren began complaining of ear pain, her mother, Renee, took her to the pediatrician who investigated the source of the earache, but found nothing wrong. "Since she had already been on antibiotics, and there was nothing wrong inside the ear, the doctor told me to give her Ibuprofen," said Renee. In spite of the doctor's diagnosis, the pain continued, and in fact, got worse.

Lauren described the pain as sharp stabbing deep in her right ear, which would quickly come and go, happening as often as four to five times per hour. The pediatrician said that a trip to ENT might be in order. Filing that in the back of her mind, Renee took her daughter to a NUCCA doctor instead.

When Dr. Zachary Ward heard Lauren's story, he suggested that the pain might be nerve related and might respond to a NUCCA correction. Dr. Ward evaluated Lauren and found tight musculature in her neck and shoulder, as well as a heat reading that showed an increased temperature around the atlas vertebrae on her left side. Lauren received a NUCCA correction on Friday morning, and by the end of that weekend, the pain subsided completely.

Something surprising also happened after the correction: the left side of Lauren's left jaw began to relax. "I asked Lauren, 'How come you never told me that your jaw was so tight on your left side'" Renee told the NUCCA News. "Lauren said, 'Mom I didn't know my jaw was that tight. It's been like that my whole life. I thought that was normal!'"

To make matters more interesting, Lauren has received orthodontia care since she was three years to correct jaw and teeth alignment issues related to a cleft palate. Until her NUCCA correction, Lauren and Renee had no idea that Lauren's ear and jaw health could be related to her neck.

"I was surprised how quickly things improved for Lauren, without using any kind of drugs or surgery." said Renee.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of any type of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for ear pain or any other condition, disease or symptom.)