Upper Cervical Chiropractic
What is upper cervical chiropractic, and what does “upper cervical” even mean? The cervical region of the spine is located in your neck and comprises the top 7 bones of the spine.
Upper cervical chiropractic is especially concerned with the top two bones of this region, which are located right below your skull. The top bone is called the atlas and the one below it is called the axis. They are especially unique when compared to the rest of the spine for two reasons.
#1. The way the bones move
Without moving your shoulders, turn your head as far left and right as you can. That is cervical rotation. A high percentage of that movement is possible because of the unique structure of our atlas and axis. The joint between those top two bones in your spine have a much greater range of motion than the rest of the spine. The rest of the bones in your spine are interlocked in a way that creates much more stability, while still allowing for some degree of rotation.
#2. What passes through them
The second thing that makes the atlas and axis unique is the way nerve information and blood flow pass through this area.
Your spinal cord is responsible for carrying nerve signals from your brain to the rest of your body, and from your body back up to your brain. The very top bone in the spine, the axis, connects to the hole at the bottom of the skull where your brain stem comes out. This is the start of the information superhighway between your brain and body. This flow of information plays a vital role in the functioning of your body.
The second important thing that passes through this area is blood flow. Blood vessels carry blood to and from the brain, bringing oxygen and nutrition to keep the brain functioning. These blood vessels have to pass through and around the atlas vertebra.
As you can see, a lot of really important things are happening in this unique top area of the spine.
DYSFUNCTION
One of the issues with increased mobility is a sacrifice of stability. Since your atlas is more freely moving than the rest of your spine, it is more prone to displacement because it is not as stabilized as the rest of the segments of the spine.
When the atlas becomes displaced, nerve information and blood flow into the brain can become disrupted. This could lead to a whole host of issues, including headaches, migraines, neck pain, balance issues, postural distortions, and more.
WHAT WE DO
When a new patient comes in with issues that we think could be linked to upper cervical misalignment, we will do an advanced structural analysis. Using specific x-ray views, we can calculate the degree of your atlas misalignment and generate a correction unique to each patient. Our goal is to restore proper blood flow and neurological function.
Our goal at Axis Chiropractic is to restore proper function so that you are able to live life to the fullest. If you have any questions about chiropractic care and how it may benefit your specific health needs, please feel free to give us a call: 912-349-4029.
-Dr. Roger Haddad
Are you looking for a Savannah, Ga chiropractor? Axis Chiropractic is conveniently located right off of Highway 80 on Whitemarsh Island and serves Whitemarsh Island, Wilmington Island, Tybee Island, downtown Savannah, and the greater Savannah area. Dr. Roger Haddad sees patients dealing with a wide range of issues including headaches, neck pain, and back pain as well as patients looking to support overall wellness and athletic performance. He is dedicated to leading a proactive life through the principles of chiropractic care. His goal is to empower the Savannah, Georgia community with specific and patient centered chiropractic care. Let Axis Chiropractic help you with your chiropractic needs.