Why Upper Cervical Care Can Help Low Back Pain.

From this Website

If someone were to say to you "Chiropractor", what would be the first thing that comes to mind? If you’re like the majority, it’s likely LOW BACK PAIN! And you’d be right because 80% of the people that seek out a chiropractor have some sort of pain in their lower back. So as an Upper Cervical doctor, one that only adjusts the top two bones in the spine, does that leave me with the remaining 20%? Can adjusting a bone in the neck really help? Well sit tight because it’s a beautiful Monday morning and I’m in the mood to do a bit of myth busting.

The Misconception

Let me begin by saying I absolutely love what I do for a living and because of that, I try to share it with as many people that will tolerate hearing about it. On occasion (more than I’d like to admit), however, the dialogue I have with people goes something like this:

　
Person: "Oh, so you’re a chiropractor? Can you crack my back?!"

　
Me: "Ha, I get that a lot. Actually, I’m an Upper Cervical doctor and I look for misalignments of one of the top two bones in the neck. They can squeeze down on the brain stem and prevent the messages from the brain to communicate with the body. That could be causing your problem."

　
Person: "You only adjust the neck? Oh, well I have low back pain. You wouldn’t be able to help me."

　
In that very moment, I know I’ve lost them because no matter what I say after that, they’ve already settled back on their preconceived notions of what a chiropractor does. SMH (google it). To say the least, it’s incredibly frustrating! That’s ok though, because as a doctor, that’s my lifelong job…to educate.

Lesson #1

Repeat after me class, "Upper Cervical chiropractic helps low back pain (and SO much more)."

The spinal column is just that, a column that supports the entire body. Not only is it the body’s primary support structure, but it also houses and protects the one thing that animates us- the spinal cord. It’s designed to not only be strong, but resilient to all of the really dumb and daring things we do in life. Of the 26 vertebrae, 24 have locking facets or joints that are all intricately wrapped with connective tissue, fascia, ligaments and muscle to essentially form one continuous functioning unit. The top two vertebrae on the other hand, do not have the locking facets so as to allow maximum motion of the neck. If you’re from the South, you’d know them as the "Yes Ma’am, no Ma’am, and I don’t know Ma’am" bones. The down side to having this great mobility is that they’re more vulnerable to injury or misalignment.

Okay, so a bone in the neck is out of whack, how does that relate to my low back? Ever play the game Jenga? Jenga is a great example of what can happen when even one block (vertebrae) is out of alignment. Even if you have the perfect foundation, if you don’t place the blocks on top perfectly, the entire tower crumbles. Because here’s the deal, your head, which weighs 12-14 lbs rests on your Atlas which weighs in at a paltry 3 oz! You want to talk about a juggling act? There are literally thousands of so-called "sensors" (second only to the number found in the under side of the foot) in the upper region of the neck that communicate to the brain to keep your head upright and level. When a misalignment occurs, the spine WILL compensate by twisting, turning, or rotating the body – whatever it has to do to get your head straight again. Yes, you could look like a pretzel, but if it meant the head was level, the brain would allow it.

This will trigger a chain reaction from the top down and compromise the rest of the spine causing an entire imbalance of the body. The result? Weak spots in what should be a relatively strong spine. And what area of the spine do you think would be compromised the most by a weak spot? I’d wager to say the area that supports the most weight, the low back. Make sense?

Lesson #2

Think low back pain is the only side effect to a misaligned Upper Cervical spine? Think again. Degeneration and arthritis might be in your future forecast as well.

Now if you know me at all, you’d know that I love cars, almost as much as I love using car analogies to explain the proper functioning of the body. Apologies in advance if you’re not a motor head, but please, bear with me for a moment. For example, let’s consider your car tires. Usually, they’ll carry a warranty for a certain number of miles. In this case, we’ll say 60K miles. If properly aligned, rotated, and balanced, you should expect those tires to last the lifetime of the warranty, right? Now suppose you’re a tiny bit negligent and forget to do that all together? Do you think they’ll last? Of course not! They’ll wear unevenly or even prematurely, and could eventually turn into a real safety risk.

This principle can be applied to ANYTHING, because when something is not aligned, it will always wear out faster than intended. Ever wonder why someone will only get arthritis in one knee and not the other? Aren’t the knees the same age? Well, I’ll put it bluntly, age has nothing to do with arthritis or degeneration! Believe me, the hunched over teenager is going to have a worse looking spine when he’s 30 than that of an elderly person that has always been mindful of their posture.

The Bottom Line

If you have chronic low back pain or it "keeps going out", then I would strongly suggest you reconsider the idea that a "neck doctor" can’t help. There are plenty of people much smarter than me (hard to believe) that have done extensive research on the topic and the evidence speaks for itself. Personally, I’ve had low back cases that have time and time again, gotten well WITHOUT ever touching their back. It’s not magic, but sure seems like it.

If you’re curious whether or not your low back pain might be related to a misalignment of the Upper Cervical spine, go ahead and do a rudimentary self check at home. Next time you look in the mirror, look at your ears. Are they level? Are your shoulders? Lie flat on your back on the floor and have a friend look at your feet. Are the heels even with each other? If you answered "No" to any of these questions, you’re more than likely misaligned and a ticking time bomb waiting to be in pain. Please share if you found this article useful!

(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 with Lower Back Pain?

As our lifestyles become more complex, the health care field has evolved and produced new methods that can help unique problems. Consider back pain. If a patient complained of lower back pain years ago, a doctor might simply prescribe some pain pills and recommend that the patient go home and rest. Today, there are types of care such as upper cervicalcare that can help. Instead of treating the pain symptoms only, upper cervical care seeks out a potential cause of your pain, in the attempt not only to help you feel better at the moment your back is hurting, but to prevent future episodes by restoring more balance to the spine. It’s a more holistic approach to care that is bringing relief to the people taking advantage of it.

Some people know exactly why they are experiencing lower back pain. They might have been involved in a car accident, or perhaps they remember pushing themselves too hard on the tennis court. When there is a specific injury that has caused a specific pain, it is much easier for doctors and medical practitioners to treat. However, a growing number of patients are reporting pain that is unexplained. Some people wake up one day and suddenly feel their back hurting. Other people report that what was once a minor irritation eventually develops into something extremely painful. This is where upper cervical care is most successful; when there is no obvious or known origin of the pain, particularly lower back pain.

When your lower back hurts, it seems natural to treat the lower back area. However, upper cervical care takes a look at the upper spine, mainly the area of the neck, instead. Practitioners have found startling evidence that these two areas of the body are linked, especially when it comes to movement and pain. The spine is one continuous part of your body. It works as a single operation and the top of the spine, near your neck, is the most mobile part of it. That’s where you’re doing most of your turning, bending, reaching and moving. The upper cervical area is also the most sensitive part of the spine. It sends thousands of sensors down your spine any time it is affected. Therefore, caring for the upper cervical area of your spine will have a direct impact on how your lower back functions and thus feels. With the goal of this type of care being to locate and correct an underlying problem that could be the cause of your symptoms, looking at the upper cervical area makes sense.

The nerve cells in your upper spine are powerful and can hurt or soothe the rest of your spinal areas. If you have recently noticed pain in your lower back, do not immediately assume it can be cured with strong medications and hot or cold packs. Instead, talk to a health care provider who has used upper cervical care successfully. Instead of focusing on the present pain symptoms in your back, your provider will focus on the spinal area that starts in your neck, and restore balance back to the spine.  Your relief will likely be more substantive and longer lasting.

This post was written for the Upper Cervical Blog by Dr. David Kulla. Dr. Kulla is a licensed NYC chiropractor and owner of Synergy Wellness in Manhattan.

(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.)

Questioning Upper Cervical Care Is A Good Thing

(Editor's Note:  The following is an email conversation that I recently had with a man who is under Upper Cervical Care in Texas and is having some concerns about care.  Questioning the care is a good thing as it allows us to clarify the objective of Upper Cervical Care and that is just as important for the doctor as it is for the patient.  I hope it aids others as the conversation aided him.  It has been edited to remove personal info on the patient and the doctors that he is seeing.)

Dear Dr. Robertson,

I just wanted to see if I can get your opinion on an issue I am facing.  I have read your blog up and down.  It is one of the things that keeps me going to an Upper Cervical doctor.  I’ve been going to one for almost four months and it has been rough.  My family has been against me going the whole time, especially my wife, and I continue to go because I think it is eventually going to pay off, and it has helped me in some ways.

I’ll keep my story as short as possible.  Twelve months ago I was a healthy 39 year old Dad.  I have had great health all my life except for having to take medication that completely controls seizures that I started having 13 years ago.  Then, I jumped into the bottom of a slide while playing TAG with my daughter exactly 12 months ago.  Things weren’t too bad at first but I’ve had a whole host of symptoms since then (tingling, numbness, and pain in hands and feet, heavy legs, dizziness, pain at the base of the skull, headaches, hand coordination issues, neck pain, back pain, etc.).  I saw three neurosurgeons over the course of the first six months and they all focused on three herniated discs in my neck that happen to be located in a location in which my spine is moderately narrow.  Two said no surgery at this time and one recommended surgery.  They weren’t too worried about a subluxation at C1 and C2, although one did have a dynamic CT run on me which showed more rotation to the right than the left and said I had some instability.

A friend recommended Upper Cervical (UC) to me and I started almost four months ago.  I live in San Antonio and drove up to Austin for each appointment.  I pretty much went weekly for three and a half months.  The day after the first adjustment I almost went to the ER.  My arms and legs tightened up so much that I had a hard time walking and using my arms.  I kept going though and the pain at the base of my skull, the headaches, and neck tension pretty much went away.  My legs also started to feel less heavy and have gotten pretty close to being normal again.  The feeling in my legs completely changed after that first adjustment and it felt like I was learning how to walk again.  They felt pretty bad for that first month but have slowly gotten better, although occasionally they go back to being heavy again.  Hand coordination issues, and especially dizziness have gotten a lot worse though and have continued to be worse.

Over the course of these four months I have been seen by two of the UC doctors in Austin and had 9 adjustments.  One of the Dr.’s in Austin recommended that I start seeing a UC doctor in San Antonio so I started going to one here about two weeks ago.  He has adjusted me once, four days ago, and yesterday I felt the worst I have felt since that first adjustment.  Granted, I’m used to having bad days, especially the 3rd day after an adjustment, but this one was bad and I had not felt that bad in quite some time.  It also came on the heels of the longest run of feeling decent after an adjustment so it was a shock.  I thought I was making some progress except for the dizziness.  Yesterday made me feel like I haven’t made any progress and it has made me start to lost hope in UC.

Today I ran some numbers, and prior to UC I felt decent 44% of the time.  Since starting UC four months ago I feel decent 43% of the time.  My wife and Mom have been on me to stop going to a UC, and I have started seeing a Prolotherapy Doctor about having the ligaments around C1 and C2 injected with Platelet Rich Plasma in hopes of strengthening them.  I’m going to give UC some more time but I am losing hope.

Sorry for the long e-mail.  I just wanted to get your thoughts.  Do you think Upper Cervical Care will eventually work for me?  Also, have you ever had any patients combine it with Prolotherapy or cold laser therapy?

Thanks,

Upper Cervical Patient

Dear Upper Cervical Patient,

Thanks for the email.

It pains me to hear of a story like yours.  I can see your frustration and honestly if it was me I probably would not have stuck with it as long as you have. 

But that being said, I have a question before we get into your options.

Which upper cervical technique (method of adjusting the upper cervical spine) do they use?

There are about a half dozen well known upper cervical techniques and I have seen situations where a patient is not getting the results they are looking for and switch to a different technique within upper cervical makes a huge difference. 

Your mode of onset is consistent with a problem in the upper cervical spine so it may be just about finding the right technique for you.

It is also possible, depending on the upper cervical doctors' findings, that you may need something else to correct the problem.  But do know that there is an answer somewhere even if it is only in you...we just need to find it. Your body knows how to maintain itself and heal itself.  It has been doing a marvelous job of it the last 39 years.  We just need to figure out what the roadblock is this time.  It may be upper cervical and a change in approach to that or something completely different dealt with differently by someone different. 

Remember the objective of upper cervical care, as I mention again and again in the my posts, "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."

We free up a "stumbling block" a "stress response" a "locked spine" to allow the body and the wisdom that runs it the chance to improve and maintain itself.  Now this sounds wonderful and is, but it doesn't mean it is the answer to some, all or any of your symptoms.  We hope it is because it is a simple non-invasive way of letting the body do what it does (heal and be well in all aspects of life) but at times it needs other things to, to get us through a rough patch.  Either way the body always needs a good nerve supply between brain and body and that is our focus.

Get the answers to the two questions at the beginning and we will go from there.

I hope I can be of help...It is why I am here.

Yours in service,

Dr. Travis Robertson

Dear Dr. Robertson,

Thank you so much for your response.  That is a key point that I sometimes forget, in that the goal of UC is to correct the misalignment.  No matter if it helps my symptoms or not, I believe correcting the misalignment is important.  When my alignment is correct I feel taller and more balanced than I have in years, maybe decades.  That, along with the fact the corrections have made several of my symptoms better, is why I continue to go.

Also, don’t get me wrong.  Upper Cervical Care has helped me in a lot of ways.  Like I mentioned, some of my symptoms are completely gone and my legs seem to keep getting somewhat better.  My one big worry, is that the adjustments are making my dizziness worse.  My theory is that my ligaments around the atlas and axis must be stretched due to how I hit my head, and this is keeping me from holding the corrections.  After holding my second correction for three weeks I haven’t been able to hold one more than two weeks since.    In your experience, can the ligaments and tendons around the atlas and axis heal and tighten up over time?   

Both UC doctors in Austin practice the NUCCA technique, and the one in San Antonio uses Orthospinology and utilizes a Laney instrument to adjust.  I have had about five pretty decent stretches of days in which I was feeling pretty good, and even normal on three different occasions, after adjustments via NUCCA.  They both had me feeling pretty good at times.  I just could never hold the adjustment for an increasing amount of time so one of them suggested staying closer to home and not making that drive once a week.  It is too early to tell how I will do under Orthospinology.  I’ve had a couple of rough days since my last correction, the first with Orthospinology, but of course I had bad days while under NUCCA as well.

I believe in Upper Cervical Care.  I want to prove that it works.  Everyone around me thinks I should give it up but I know that it has had some effect on all of my symptoms and I think it will eventually help all of my symptoms.  I just worry about the dizziness and not being able to hold the corrections so far.  Both of those worries have led me to Prolotherapy for possible injection of my own Platelet Rich Plasma into those ligaments.  I’m not at that point yet, but it is an option if things don’t get better.

I really appreciate your time and response.  Also, thanks for the great job that you are doing with your blog.  Know that it is helping those of us out there that are in care or thinking about care.  If you have any suggestions I’d be glad to hear them, but I know that you are busy with your own practice and blog.  I really appreciate you listening and let me know what you think about the ligaments being able to heal.

Thanks Again,

Upper Cervical Patient    

Dear Upper Cervical Patient,

Yes, in my opinion, if given the right conditions, the ligaments and tendons can heal.  This is more likely possible the longer you hold your corrections.  Our ligaments and tendons and the rest of our bodies are always in a constant state of repair and renewal.  We continuously remodel our bodies based on the stress that are put on it combined with our needs as a living individual.  It is an ongoing 'dance'.  I would continue then with what you are doing. 

The upper cervical area is very influential to our sense of balance so if the damage was significant the body would have locked that area to protect the important structures and then adapted its balance system to the change.  Now they are attempting to restore proper alignment to allow for more complete healing and it is disturbing the 'post injury re-calibrated balance centers'.  That would be my best educated guess anyway for the potential increase in dizziness.  The adjustments that you are receiving are very gentle so the potential to cause damage is extremely small.

I have included a copy of my book in pdf format.  It may also prove useful in your journey.

Keep me in the loop and I will offer what help I can. Never lose sight of your goals but also never lose sight of the upper cervical objective.  That will guide you in what else you may need to do, besides upper cervical, to achieve the results you are looking for.

Yours in Service,

Dr. Travis Robertson

Dear Dr. Robertson,

Your explanation on the dizziness increase makes a lot of sense.  That is the best possible explanation that I have heard.  Maybe if I finally get to that holding stage my body will be able to re-calibrate and it will go away.  I had been thinking of trying to combine acupuncture and upper cervical care to see if that helps with the dizziness.   

Thank you so much for your help and for including a copy of your book.  I will definitely utilize it.

Thanks,
Upper Cervical Patient

Is Upper Cervical Care Really That Simple?

Upper Cervical Care Is Easy To Understand

As experts on the upper cervical spine, upper cervical doctors focus on the intimate relationship between the top two bones in the neck, called the upper cervical spine, and, more importantly, a vital portion of the nervous system called the brain stem. This relationship is absolutely essential to the body’s ability to restore and preserve health.

In order to grasp the upper cervical concept, you must first understand how the body is created and, more importantly, how it is designed to function normally and remain healthy

The brain stem controls and coordinates virtually every vital function of the body and acts as a conduit between the brain and the body. It extends from the brain down through an opening in the base of your skull and into the upper cervical region. Working much like a telephone cable, the brain stem has millions of individual wires, or nerve fibers, that send signals back and forth between the brain to every system, organ, muscle and cell within the body. We must have 100% brain-to-body communication in order to function properly and remain healthy.

The top two bones in the neck, the atlas and axis, are the only two vertebrae in the entire spine that don’t have an intervertebral disc. They are designed to move in six directions and are considered freely movable. By contrast, every other bone in the spine, from the 3rd vertebra all the way down to the bottom, not only have a disc but also four inter-locking joints that only allow the bones to move in 2 directions. As a result, the top two freely movable bones are much more susceptible to misalignment.

If one of the upper two bones becomes misaligned, two things happen. First and foremost, it irritates or interferes with the brain stem and reduces the brain-to-body communication. Wherever those messages were intended to go, whether it’s your foot, kidney, pancreas, heart, lungs, eyes or ears, it is going to malfunction in some way, subtle or obvious. Secondly, consider the upper spine as part of a kinetic chain, connected from head to toe. If either of the top two bones becomes misaligned, the rest of the body must compensate or adapt, resulting in total “body imbalance”. In the end, your health and physical body will be compromised. This is called head/neck misalignment.

Every healing profession acknowledges that the body has an inborn or innate ability to heal itself. By restoring these healing messages, your body will operate closer to its potential from the top, down and from the inside, out.

See...Upper Cervical Care is that simple.

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.)

The Medullary Lock: The Basis Of Upper Cervical Care

Editor's note: This is a little on the technical side so some readers may get lost with some of the terminology. For some people who are more skeptical and analytical minded this will serve to explain upper cervical care in a more detailed way.

Medullary Lock

by KCUCS.com

The Brain Stem, from a Neuro-Physiological standpoint is the center of life in the body. It is one of the first organized structures formed in embryo (1) and the last place life is evident before a person passes. The lower portion of the Brain Stem lies in the cradle where the head sits on the spine. Therefore, a Head/Neck Misalignment can potentially manifest in a wide variety of symptoms and diseases.

The Medullary Lock is an elaborate network of hard and soft tissue that acts as a stabilizing support for the medulla and upper spinal cord. It secures the medulla and upper spinal cord in the center of the spinal canal and foramen magnum in cases of trauma. Otherwise, even minor slips and falls could be devastating to the body.

With atlas and/or axis misalignment, the very safeguards the medulla and upper spinal cord are afforded through the Medullary Lock become the very mechanism creating cord distortion.

The development of the Medullary Lock was built upon the foundation of Dr. John D Grostic's Dentate Ligament theory (2).

To introduce the Medullary Lock we need to consider 4 basic components.

1. Upper Cervical muscles and their roles
2. Supportive ligaments and membranes and their roles
3. 4 known structures with external attachments to the Dura Mater
4. One structure internally attached to the Dura Mater and intimately connected with the cord.

Each of these components not only work together but are synergistic one with another. There are 4 pairs of muscles called suboccipital muscles (3-5) that act to extend, rotate and laterally bend the Upper Cervical Spine and head. They as well are called proprioceptive muscles because they are chalked full of proprioceptive nerve fibers and carry the responsibility of relaying info to the brain stem as to head position at any given time.

There is an elaborate ligament system that secures the Upper Cervical spine (6-10). The Alar ligament attaches to the lateral margin of the dens about half way up from its base and connects to the medial aspect of the ipsilateral condyle. In the neutral head position these ligaments are in their most relaxed position. The purpose of the Alar ligaments is to check lateral bending and head rotation on the contralateral side. The Alar ligaments do afford some protection for the medulla in checking extreme head rotation. When Alar ligaments are compromised the atlas slides lateral ipsilateral upon lateral bending.

The tectorial membrane works together with the alar ligaments providing stability for the upper cervical region in flexion. The atlanto occipital membrane provides stability in extension. The anterior longitudinal ligament and posterior longitudinal ligament as well provide craniovertebral stability.

The muscles, ligaments, capsules and membranes all provide support for the cranio vertebral region working synergistically. They provide stability and positional awareness for the upper cervical region.

Some of these structures; ligaments, muscles and membranes have direct connection with the dura mater at the cranio vertebral junction. There are four known structures external to the cord that attach to the dura mater.

1. Attachment of the dura mater to the foramen magnum (11)
2. Attachment of the dura mater to the posterior arch of C1 & C2 (11)
3. Connective tissue bridge between the rectus capitus posterior minor muscle and the dura mater (12)
4. Connective tissue attachments between the ligamentum nuchae and flavum to the dura (13,14)

There is one internal structure to the dura mater, the dentate ligament, which stabilizes the medulla and upper spinal cord within the spinal canal space in the upper cervical spine. Dr. Grostic outlined its detrimental effects (2).

The Medullary Lock is a stabilizing factor for the medulla and upper spinal cord (15). The 4 known structures described above external to the dura and the one internal, the dentate ligament, all work together as a network of support. Regardless in what position the head moves, whether rotation right or left, flexion or extension, lateral bending left or right, or any combination, it is important for the medulla and upper spinal cord to remain fixed within their position relative to the spinal canal and foramen magnum. This becomes even more crucial in the cases of trauma. Movement beyond a small amount in the vertical superior or inferior, anterior upon flexion, posterior upon extension or any combination can prove to be fatal. In fact, it is reported that most fatal car crashes are the result of a fractured atlas. In these cases, it is easy to see how the Medullary Lock could lose its integrity.

The Medullary Lock is a mechanism that provides security and stability for the medulla and upper spinal cord. However, because of its mechanism of support, when the upper cervical vertebrae are in a 3 directional torque misalignment, stretch and tension are exerted through the dentate ligaments exerting forces on the cord as described by Dr. Grostic.

Dr. Grostic's dentate ligament cord distortion hypothesis was consistent with what BJ Palmer described (16) in Volume XVIII, regarding cord pressure.

BJ Palmer expounded upon the original 4 elements of a subluxation:

1. Misalignment
2. Occlusion of a foramen
3. Pressure upon nerves
4. Interference to the mental impulse.

BJ explained the necessity of a 5th element (17) describing the subluxation as a 3 directional torque, misaligning on three planes simultaneous. In this manner, the misalignment becomes permanent more or less. It is the permanency of the upper cervical subluxation that leads to the weakened ability of the body to adapt to the environment and grow in dis-ease.

The longer a person is able to stay balanced in the upper cervical area, remaining relatively clear from nerve interference, the stronger the Medullary Lock becomes. The stronger the Medullary Lock becomes the more difficult it is for a person to subluxate and the higher the potential is for that person to recover from long term illness or simply achieve their highest potential health. The reverse is true, the more unstable the Medullary Lock, the more easily it will be for that person to subluxate and the more susceptible the person will be in 'growing dis-ease'.

It is our opinion that over adjusting or adjusting too often, especially with upper cervical procedures, can weaken the Medullary Lock.

KCUCS practitioners view their purpose as Upper Cervical doctors to be guardians of the Medullary Lock, to facilitate more stability of the Medullary Lock over a long period of time. Putting particular emphasis on substantial long-term growth in health and life. This is consistent with what BJ Palmer referred to Accumulative Constructive Survival Value (ACSV) (18). The greater the ACSV, the greater the ability to grow in health, adapt to the environment and overcome disease.

REFERENCES:

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12. Hack G: Anatomical relation between the rectus capitus posterior minor and the dura mater. Spine, 20(23): 2484-2486
13. Shinomiya K, Dawson, J, Spengler DM, Konrad P, Blumenkopf B: An analysis of the posterior epidural ligament role on the cervical spinal cord. Spine, 1996; 21(18):2081-2088
14. Dean N, Mitchell B: Anatomic Relation between the nuchal ligament (ligamentum nuchae) and the spinal dura mater in the craniocervical region. 2002 Clin. Anat. 15:182-185.
15. Kessinger, R: KCUCS instrumentation module notes. 2009, Cape Girardeau, MO, pp 20-23.
16. Palmer BJ: The subluxation specific the adjustment specific, Vol. XVIII. 1934, Palmer School of Chiropractic, Davenport, IA. pp 322-323.
17. Palmer BJ: The subluxation specific the adjustment specific, Vol. XVIII. 1934, Palmer School of Chiropractic, Davenport, IA. pp 248-251
18. Palmer BJ: History repeats, Vol. XXVII. 1951, Palmer School of Chiropractic, Davenport, IA. pp 707-708.

The Unreasonable Christmas and Upper Cervical Care

Editors Note: Adapted from Have an Unreasonable Christmas! by Dr. Michael D. Thomas

The inclement weather this month has caused a few of my patients to remark that they are tired of being cold and are going to move to Florida… As I write this on the 12th of the month, we have already had one significant cold snap and are gearing up for another one. These abrupt changes in temperature are tough on folks, so please take a little better care of yourselves than usual.

One of my friends and teachers once told me that it is only the unreasonable people who change the world. All the reasonable ones just adapt to whatever happens, in a reasonable manner. The seemingly reasonable response to the changes in our lives is all too frequently, anger and fear. We hear it almost everywhere now. It is on the radio and the TV and all over the internet. I would ask you, in this festive season, to be a bit unreasonable. Gandhi once noted that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will leave the world blind and edentulous (toothless!). Revenge may have a transient attraction but it creates an endless circle of relationships all bent on calamity. There are too many endless grievances among too many peoples of the world to even list. Yes, it is exactly how we humans have always been.

So in this holiday season I would ask you to be a bit unreasonable. Perform random acts of kindness. Be respectful. Take the time to listen to what people are saying to you. Express your gratitude. Smile with your eyes as well as your mouth. Let your heart show once in a while. A kind word can change a disaster into a blessing.

Be the qualities that are missing for you in this world. Babies learn by modeling their mother’s behavior. Throughout our lives, we find innumerable teachers and we can all teach each other compassion and tolerance and good will by having those qualities within ourselves as we move amongst each other. It is actually contagious. We all wish to feel these qualities within ourselves, and it feels good to be treated with respect. To be listened to. To be thanked.

Thank you all for reading. Every day I feel the wonderful effects of circular relationships built on trust and respect and goodwill. Practicing and writing about upper cervical care has truly been a great blessing for me. I wish to be of service in this world and this work has given me a vehicle to change lives in many incredible ways. I remain after all these years, amazed at the power of structure and function, of realigning the upper cervical spine and watching Life restore itself.

I have received many thanks for the effects of this work in people's lives and today I want to thank everyone for collectively allowing me the opportunity to serve. Don’t give up on this crazy world yet. Find balance in your life and then use your life to make the world just a little bit better. Our actions are contagious and maybe some love will get mixed into the temper of the times. It could sure use it. Peace on Earth. Goodwill to Men (And Women too!)

What Is The Value Of Upper Cervical Care?

I was thinking about the value of upper cervical care the other day and I had to wonder whether any of us really know its value. When can deduce that when nerve interference is removed from your body, the body works better. That means your resistance is higher. Does that mean that when a person coughs in your face, you will not get a cold, or you will just get a cold instead of the flu? Perhaps. If your nerve system is working at greater efficiency, will that make you think better, concentrate better, or be more effective in your work? Perhaps! To what degree we cannot say. It may be noticeable or it may not. Everyone is different. Yet clearly it will make a difference. It is like exercising. You do not necessarily see a reduction in your waistline or bigger muscles after the first day of an exercise program but you know there is a change in your body. Often you can feel the change in the form of soreness or stiffness. The next time you exercise and you do not feel it, does that mean there has been no change?

We really cannot perceive all of the positive things that are happening in our bodies when we are maintaining our upper cervical correction. There are positive changes taking place on the cellular level. Life giving energy is being restored to starved and depleted cells. You cannot measure the value of that. Conversely, we really cannot know the damage being done by head/neck misalignment that cuts off the nerve supply to the tissues and cells in your body. It could be robbing the quality and quantity of your life. Someone once said that every cigarette cuts five minutes off your life. He further suggested that it would be great if that five minutes occurred right after a person finished smoking the cigarette. In other words, they would drop dead for five minutes and then come back. It would surely emphasize the harm of smoking. Yet because the major effects do not occur until the end of one’s life, it is not perceived as life threatening. I don’t know whether the five-minute figure is true but there is no doubt that smoking has a negative effect on the quantity and quality of one’s life. Similarly, there can be harm to one’s life from head/neck misalignment despite the fact that we cannot measure it.

What is the value of children having their upper cervical spine checked, and if needed corrected, at the earliest possible age? Again we many not be able to measure it because every child’s potential is different. However, a body maintaining its correction definitely enables them to move closer to their fullest potential. What is the value of upper cervical care? Sometimes we believe we can know it because of an immediate change or because a long-standing problem is resolved after getting under care. I would suggest that is only the tip of the iceberg. That is only a small part of the benefit of periodic upper cervical check-ups. We really cannot know what microscopic effects are taking place. We really cannot know what immeasurable effects are occurring like higher resistance and improved physical, mental and emotional function. Lastly, we cannot know what life-extending effects are taking place. Like the commercial for a certain credit card, there are some things that you can put a price on and some things are priceless. Upper cervical care is one of those things of which you just cannot know the value.

Signs and Symptoms Of An Upper Cervical Injury

These are the signs and symptoms that may indicate that you have an upper cervical spine injury, which may have gone undetected for some time. Remember these are just indicators but one should strongly consider being evaluated by an Upper Cervical Doctor if they are experiencing even just some of what is listed below. However, the posture, head tilt sign, shoulder height sign and ear symptoms will, in my opinion, make it a strong possibility that you do have such an injury.

1. Is your posture poor? Do you have rounded shoulders &/or forward head posture? Does your head feel heavy to hold?

2. Is your head tilted to one side and/or your head rotated to one side when you look in a mirror? This can be very subtle.

3. Does your nose or nasal septum deviate to one side? If so, you may find that it deviates towards the side to which your atlas has moved forward (e.g. nose deviates to the left; then atlas is forward on the left)

4. Is one of your shoulders lower than the other? Pull your shoulders back and down and look carefully for one lower than the other. Again it can be subtle.

5. Press firmly but gently with your thumb into the impression just below your skull at the top of your neck on both sides of the back of the neck. This is known as the sub-occipital area. Find the base of your skull and press the soft flesh around that area. Is this tender or painful for you?

6. Do you have some shoulder and/or neck pain/aches, which don't seem to go away?

7. Does your jaw click when you open your mouth? Further check on this; Put your pinkies (little fingers) into your ear canals and chew normally. Do you feel a bumpy dislocation like feeling? This should be a smooth action in your joints.

8. Do you have any lower back pain or mid back pain (under the shoulder blades)?

9. Can you move your head from side to side without pain or restriction? Is there a loss of Range of Motion (ROM)?

10. Do you have any sand paper, clicking or crunching sounds when moving your head from side to side in a 'NO' action?

11. Is your hearing a problem or do you have other ear symptoms (e.g. tinnitus, watery sounds, blockages, vertigo, Meniere’s Disease, otalgia, recurrent ear infections)?

12. Do you often get headaches or migraines?

13. Can you remember any trauma (even minor) to the head, neck or shoulders?

14. Was your birth difficult?

15. How’s your vision? – Sensitive to light, especially at dusk, floaters?

16. Do you experience any dizziness, vertigo or movement sensations? Does the ground seem to move away from you?

17. Do you experience any tingling and burning sensations especially in fingers and toes?

18. Do you have confirmed Scoliosis of the spine, from x-rays? Do you have one leg shorter than the other or is your pelvis higher on one side?

19. Have you had any x-rays, CT scans or MRIs taken of your neck? Do these reveal loss of normal neck curve), even a small amount?

Retrace Your Steps With Upper Cervical Care

Please keep in mind while you read that Upper Cervical Care wants to achieve the most stable correction possible in the shortest period of time possible to help you regain and maintain your health and save you time and money in the process.

Retracing Cycles of Repair

By The Blair Chiropractic Society

What do we mean by retracing? Primarily it implies going over ground that has already been covered until the individual reaches the point from which they started.

When a patient is under Upper Cervical Care, it often occurs that they exhibit symptoms that have not manifested themselves for months, or even years. Their first impression is that they are becoming worse, but they are retracing the several stages through which their condition progressed in the making.

The question of time is essential in the matter of retracing. If a condition has been in progress for a number of years, the patient should not always expect to regain the normal state within a few days.

As it took time for the condition of the patient to change from health to a maximum degree of abnormality, so it takes time to retrace from the abnormality back to health.

What the Upper Cervical Doctor Does

The Upper Cervical Doctor is thoroughly trained to detect the abnormal positions of the upper cervical spine. They are further trained in the technique of restoring this area to their normal positions.

The question naturally arises in the mind of the patient as to why the Upper Cervical Doctor cannot return the upper neck immediately to its normal position and thus immediately restore the body to a healthy state.

What actually happens when a correction is given is the head and neck are returned toward its normal position. When an correction is done the ligaments and muscles are given an opportunity to regain, in part, their normal tone, and this permits them to hold the head and neck in a more nearly normal state.

Points To Remember

The spine, however, and the body in general is subject to more or less strain during the every day life, and it is possible that the head and neck may recede toward its old abnormal position, thereby necessitating another correction.

Keep in mind that tissues often must be rebuilt in order for the head and neck to hold its normal position.

In addition, tissues that have perhaps for years assumed an abnormal condition, due to the gradually increasing pressure upon the nerve fibers, must be allowed time to return through the various stages they have passed in the production of the abnormality.

This all takes time, and patience becomes a cardinal virtue, based on the knowledge that all is progressing as it should.

Gradual Retracing

It can thus readily be seen that there is a gradual retracing in the position of the spine from the time when it attains the maximum degree, to the time when it returns again to normal.

There is also a retracing in the condition of the tissues that are supplied by the nerve fibers impinged. They have gradually attained a maximum degree of abnormality and must return through those various stages by which they progressed in the attainment of that abnormality.

Not only is there retracing so far as the spine is concerned and the tissue cells affected, but there also may be a retracing in the symptoms exhibited by the patient.

Various Stages

Different stages of correction can give rise to different symptoms, and as the order reverses itself, symptoms that were present, perhaps years ago, may again occur.

If the spine is being returned rapidly toward its normal position, an entire series of symptoms may develop at one time and the patient consequently will believe they are getting worse.

As a matter of fact, the outlook is particularly bright at this time, and the patient should realize this fact. Naturally, if they do not understand the condition, they will assume that they are becoming worse and may stop Upper Cervical Care entirely.

It cannot be made too emphatic that this is the very time when they should continue with Upper Cervical Care, because the results are being obtained which will do the greatest good.

Must Be Retracing

It is immaterial whether the problem is one of long standing or an acute condition. There must be retracing in the position of the vertebra and in whatever structural or functional change has occurred.

Naturally, if this is true, there must be a retracing in the symptoms. In acute cases they may be so slight in degree that they pass unnoticed.

Finally, every patient should realize the necessity for continuing with Upper Cervical Care, even though they cannot note the progress made from day to day, or even though they believe the condition is worse.

It is essential for this period of retracing to be passed through, and they should not allow any temporary discouragement to preclude the ultimate health, which will be theirs if they continue.

Upper Cervical Care and High Blood Pressure: The Palmer Study

Below is part of an article about the research that Palmer College will be doing regarding Upper Cervical Care and Hypertension/High Blood Pressure.

Click here for the full article

Researchers at the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research (PCCR) clinic facility, 741 Brady St., Davenport, on the campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic, are looking for 165 people in the Quad Cities with hypertension, or high blood pressure, to participate in a clinical research study with the potential for significant impact on the treatment of hypertension. Patient recruitment began in late November. Participants must have high blood pressure and be between 21 and 75 years of age.

“More than 50 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure, making it the most commonly diagnosed disease in the United States,” said Dr. Goertz. “Although many medical treatments for diagnosed hypertension are available, only about 30% of patients achieve blood pressure goals. Many patients report that they are unable to tolerate medication side effects and find it difficult to sustain significant lifestyle changes. Thus, a non-pharmacological therapy that lowers blood pressure could become an attractive option to many patients and their physicians.”

“The concept that manipulation of the upper cervical spine could reduce blood pressure is both novel and appealing at the same time” said Dr. Lamas. “It is novel because of its originality of thought, and because it is backed up by preliminary data. It is appealing because any treatment for high blood pressure that does not expose patients to drugs and their side effects should be investigated. I really look forward to assisting with the study and seeing the results.”

“This should be an interesting trial,” added Dr. Giudici. “Work to date has shown that blood pressure responds to other non-pharmacologic interventions such as diet, weight loss, exercise, stress reduction and yoga. There is also some interesting early data on blood pressure response to slowing respiratory rate. Palmer has put together an impressive team of researchers and the infrastructure needed to perform this and other studies.”

Potential participants in the study will be examined at the PCCR clinic and Trinity Terrace Park Family Practice Clinic to determine whether they qualify for the study. If so, they will be randomly assigned to one of three different upper cervical treatment groups, all of which will receive chiropractic care at the Palmer Research Clinic for eight weeks. Patients will have their blood pressure monitored on a regular basis while participating in the study. All examinations and treatment are provided at no charge to the patient.

What You Can Do To Get (And Stay) Well

The Secret of Brain to Body Communication

By Dr. Daniel Clark

One of the world's best kept secrets - the key to enjoying a better quality of life - and living pain free without the use of drugs is within your reach.

The secret is a relatively unknown yet simple scientific procedure that maintains head and neck alignment which in turn, allows the brain to communicate efficiently with all parts of the body without interference. The secret is best known as UPPER CERVICAL CORRECTIVE HEALTH CARE.

The human body is a complex creation with a phenomenal ability to heal itself - given the right conditions.

The brain, like a powerful computer system controls and monitors all bodily functions. Brain messages; signals from the brain to the body are the medium used to communicate instructions from the brain to the different body parts. These brain messages move in a vast network of connections, our nervous system, which allows the brain to communicate with even the most remote part of the body.

A vast and complex network

• This vast network of connections shuttles millions of health and healing messages per second back and forth to all parts of the body.

• These messages govern the thousands of functions that keep our body operational.

• We can't feel the messages. We can't see them, but we know they exist. It's these messages that keep the heart pumping blood, the lungs taking in air, the stomach digesting food - and the thousands of biological functions occurring continuously in the body.

• Every one of these messages passes through a small area of the neck at the point where the head and neck join. It's a critical area in the brain's communication pathway for sending its health and healing messages down the spinal cord, out over the nervous system to all parts of the body.

Atop this critical area sits the head. The head weighs between 8 and 14 lbs and rests in a delicate balance at the top of the spine. The head must remain perfectly balanced and in alignment on top of the neck to prevent any interference in brain to body communication.

MOST PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HEAD/NECK MISALIGNMENT WITHOUT EVER KNOWING IT.

There are many ways this critical head/neck area can become misaligned; a fall, an accident, a bump on the head, bad sleeping habits or poor posture. Misalignment can even occur during the birth process. Forceps used as a birthing aid, or a simple twist of the head during delivery can bring on misalignment! Any type of misalignment, regardless of how it occurred, restricts or distorts brain to body messages in this critical area at the top of the neck. Left unchecked this misalignment can cause pain and symptoms to develop and increase during one's lifetime.

Regardless of how misalignment occurs, it can prevent the body from sending “S.O.S.” messages to the brain when in need of help. That part of the body that cannot effectively communicate with the brain will begin to develop symptoms and health problems.

These health problems will grow worse until the misalignment (bottleneck) is corrected and effective brain to body communication is restored.

The Upper Cervical Doctor's specialty is THE UPPER CERVICAL SPINAL CORRECTION, which is barely felt by the patient, requires NO forceful pulling, twisting or jerking motion of the neck.

It is specifically designed to correct head/neck misalignment, to restore body balance, and to re-activate brain communication to the areas affected by misalignment. As soon as the correction is made, muscles begin to relax, blood and oxygen circulation increases, the immune system gains strength and vitality and the body's natural, self-healing process begins.

This natural self-healing process continues as long as the head/neck alignment is maintained and the brain can communicate without interference to all parts of the body.

HEAD/NECK MISALIGNMENT IS ALWAYS PRESENT BEFORE PAIN AND SYMPTOMS APPEAR.

Since the body has self-healing properties, WE SHOULD GIVE IT MORE ATTENTION because many of our daily activities can cause misalignment to occur. Upper Cervical Doctors are committed to help patients maintain head/neck alignment in order to prevent any interference in brain to body communication.

To keep functioning without illness and pain, our bodies need periodic checkups. Just as we visit our doctor and dentist for regular checkups, checking for and correcting misalignment is the secret of insuring a better quality of life, retaining good health, and living pain free.

Upper Cervical preventive and corrective health care is truly one of the world's best kept secrets. It is a natural and effective way to living pain free without the use of drugs and is safe and effective for people of all ages.

Organic Disease and Upper Cervical Care

Excerpt from:
Autism, Asthma, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Strabismus, and Illness Susceptibility:
A Case Study in Chiropractic Management.
As Published in the Journal Today’s Chiropractic; Vol 27, No 5: 32-47

Pathologies of organic origin are commonly thought to be the exclusive realm of medical treatment and not part of the mainstay of chiropractic care. The clinical observations of a patient presenting with autism, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, strabismus, and illness susceptibility are reported. Alleviation of symptoms is seen subsequent to corrections of abnormal biomechanical function of the occipito-atlanto-axial complex. A relationship between biomechanical faults in the upper cervical spine and the manifestation of abnormal central neurophysiological processing is suggested as the genesis of this patient’s symptomatology.

The most important factor in this case was our ability to objectively monitor the adjustment’s affects on the patient’s neurophysiology. Many different types of tests are used in our profession such as leg length, cervical challenge, motion and static palpation, and others. However, these tests lack objectivity, posses inherent errors, and have no literature confirmation of their ability to monitor neurophysiology. Digital infrared imaging, however, has been researched for over 30 years compiling almost 9,000 peer-reviewed and indexed articles confirming its use as an objective measure of neurophysiology. By using this technology, our clinic has been able to consistently determine the correct adjustive procedures that produce reproducible and dramatic positive neurophysiological improvements in our patients.

If the foundation of our profession stands on the principle that homeostasis is dependent upon coordinated neurophysiology, then we must directly and objectively monitor this system as an outcome measure to our care. But not any way of monitoring this system will suffice. We need to measure the autonomic nervous system if we are to monitor the global systemic aspect of the nervous system’s control. Paraspinal digital infrared imaging fulfills this need by objectively measuring the autonomic changes of all 32 spinal nerves as they exit to effect deep visceral function. Since testing does not involve patient compliance, such as movement or a verbal response, paraspinal infrared imaging becomes as objective a test of neurophysiology as we can get.

To what magnitude the upper cervical spine is involved in the genesis of organic conditions remains to be seen. In an atmosphere where much of the public see our profession as useful for neck and back pain treatment at most, patients with complex disorders are left unaware of the possible benefits of care. The body of literature detailing a possible upper cervical etiology, or at least contribution, to organic disorders is substantial. Further research into this area of the spine, combined with objective monitoring of neurophysiology, may reveal that chiropractic does indeed offer consistent conservative management of complex visceral disorders.

How to Change the World

I realize that many of us want to change the world especially those that know the truth about Upper Cervical Care. The fact remains however that the more we are willing to share that knowledge the more the awareness will spread. When that awareness reaches critical mass, action, actual system wide action, will automatically come to pass.

I know that many of the doctors, patients and advocates of Upper Cervical Care want action now but I feel that the best action right now is to continue to tell the story, shout it from the rooftops and the mountain tops, here, there and everywhere. Right now there are too many people and groups that will try to squash any real action steps, and will most likely succeed. It will only be when critical mass has been reached that the core paradigm will shift and those same people and groups will not be able to stop the actions that will spring forth.

That should be our charge: to continually, and as quickly as possible, strengthen this rising wave of change and then ride that wave on to the beach of a brighter future.

P.S. As Dr. BJ Palmer once said, "You never know how far reaching something you may think, say or do could affect the live of millions tomorrow!" Who knows how many souls have read or been told the truth today, right now this very minute, that has changed how they view their health. People that, had others not been willing to tell the story again and again and again and again, might not have heard it. Getting frustrated with the world and people today is normal, but change will happen faster only if we are willing to keep telling the story. There is an old saying that says, "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." So don't be well adjusted to society be radical, be different, be abnormal, be crazy, share the truth.

"It is not the final chop that brings the tree down but all the ones that came before."

Keep chopping away.

The Highlight of Practicing Upper Cervical Care

Earlier today I had the pleasure of checking a cute little bundle, a baby not quite two weeks old. The parents are firm supporters of upper cervical care and several weeks before the birth had asked me if I would be willing to check their baby once she was born. "Of course!", I said "It would be an honor."

Background -

The upper cervical spine is crucial because as Dr Gott. MD notes, "The head weighs between eight and 14 pounds. It must remain in perfect alignment in order to prevent interference in every brain-to-body function. Misalignment can result from automobile accidents, poor posture, falls and countless other causes. When the head becomes misaligned, it reacts adversely with pain and poor health. This is where upper-cervical chiropractic intervention comes into play. There is no forceful twisting or pulling of the neck. Muscles relax, blood circulation increases, and healing begins." The only thing I would add as a potential cause would be trauma during the birth process. It is also understood that the 8 to 14 pounds refers to adults and newborns/children have much lighter heads. However a newborn's/infant's ratio of head weight to body weight is much greater (heavier heads relative to body weight) and when you take that into consideration along with the diminished control of the head and neck in a newborn/infant it makes this area even more clinically significant.

History -

The mother had some minor issues near the end of pregnancy but birth went smoothly. The baby's presentation was normal and the baby was born vaginally. They opted for a hospital birth and there was no induction of labor or forceful pulling or twisting of the baby's head and neck during the birth. The baby came out fairly quickly with the last push bringing the head and the rest of baby with it. Some normal cone shape to the skull was present at birth which quickly molded to normal over the next 24 hours. Slight bruising to the back left portion of the skull from perhaps pushing against the pubic bone prior to birth. From the mother and father's perspective there was no indication of any trauma during or immediately following the birth. The baby is breastfed and the parents noted that she moves her head with a fair amount of control for her age. Other than a bit of issue from time to time staying latched on when feeding she appears to have no problems.

Analysis -

Upon checking the baby, head was very symetrical and bruising on back of head had healed. Baby was alert and content with no obvious signs of discomfort. Muscle tone in neck was good bilaterally and no sensitivity or irritation from analyzing the area was noted. Bilateral measurements of temperature in the atlas fossa (divet just behind ear lobe) were within an acceptable range and general muscle tone throughout the remainder of the spine was good and symetrical even when the upper cervical spine was stressed. Reversed Fencer's was performed and no abonormality was detected.

Outcome -

Based on the history and the analysis, x-rays were not indicated and no upper cervical correction was needed at this time.

Conclusion -

This provides additional evidence that the nature and progression of the birth process appears to play a significant role in the initial stability of the upper cervical spine. It has been observed that when there is abnormal baby presentation (breech, brow breech, footling) and/or more invasive methods (c-section, forceps, vacuum extraction, or forceful pulling or twisting of the head by hand) are utilized to birth the baby there is a significantly greater possibility of trauma to the upper cervical spine. More research in this area is warranted because not only do we, as upper cervical doctors, make corrections to this region but also those things that prevent them from occuring, especially during the birth process, could drastically reduce the need for care over the course of one's life time.

Remember it is holding/not needing a correction that gets and keeps people well, not correcting them.