Recently some great posts have been placed on a few of our favorite blogs helping to explain the how and why upper cervical care works, and why so many make it a part of their lives.

Satisfaction associated with upper cervical chiropractic care

What information can prospective patients garner from this data? First, that the true Upper Cervical approach doesn’t require dozens of visits before patients see improvement. This is valuable in a number of ways…

Ten reasons to try upper cervical chiropractic care (in Auburn Hills, Michigan)

Although there are other reasons that may be unique to your situation, here are ten good reasons why you might want to make your next consultation with a health care provider in an upper cervical chiropractic office.

Six things upper cervical doctors do differently than other chiropractors

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.

How many adjustments do I need (part 1)

Those who choose the third way have gotten the big idea that a healthy life lived to the fullest extent depends on a healthy nervous system, which depends on a healthy spine, and that in this day and age, a healthy spine depends on quality chiropractic adjustments.

How many adjustments do I need (part 2)

Some people think that if you’ve visited one chiropractor, then you’ve visited them all. In reality, chiropractic care and the delivery of the chiropractic adjustment is its own art form. There are multiple ways to adjust the spine, and multiple ways to figure out if that adjustment was successful or not.

Great upper cervical safety study by Eriksen at al.

What’s really remarkable, but not surprising, is that all 83 Chiropractors have delivered over 5 million adjustments with no reported incidence of serious adverse events.

Why I am an upper cervical care advocate

So, when my upper cervical doctor released my wife and me from our pain, I couldn’t just run to freedom without taking my fellow “inmates” with me. Of course, not everyone will be able to go. Fear, and the comfort of “an evil that they know” will make it difficult for some to follow when the door swings open.

1. I’m addicted to seeing visible changes in posture.

There is a quote by a medical doctor, Dr. Rene Cailliet at the University of Southern California, that says:

The entire body can be aligned by first aligning the head.

As an upper cervical chiropractor who uses posture as a a before and after tool to help me to decide whether to give an adjustment or not, I understand what the doctor is talking about.

Hip tilt and twist, spasm in the lower back muscles, leaning of the spine, and shoulders that aren’t level can all change and resolve after a careful, measured adjustment to the upper cervical spine. Many of these changes are instantaneous.

Posture changes after adjustments to the top of neck.

In a world where some believe that change in posture is only possible after months of sweating through muscle retraining, or spending thousands of dollars on traction, it is nice to see it after one chiropractic adjustment.

2. I like giving everyone an adjustment that is unique to them.

You can adjust the upper neck based on lack of motion alone. If it’s stuck on the right, adjust the right. If it’s stuck on the left, adjust the left.

But there is another school of thought that says that the head and the neck are in such unique balance to each other, that chiropractors should not just guess on a direction based on the motion of the joint. Instead we should measure the misalingment taking the measurements of all the bones at the top of the neck into account, which are unique for every individual.

With the NUCCA system for the care of the upper neck and spine, that is exactly how we do it, with very detailed x-rays and measurements.

The goal is to give everyone a unique adjustment that is unique to their specific anatomy.

3. I believe that less is more and enjoy practicing that way.

In the early days of chiropractic care there was a lot of experimentation with adjusting procedures. Some advocated adjusting every single vertebrae in the back. Others adjusted the same series of vertebrae in every single patient.  As the art and science of adjusting developed, gradually there grew in interest in discovering how much could be accomplished with one adjustment.

That lead to the discovery of the unique relationship between the top of the neck and its influence on the rest of the spine and body.

Today, upper cervical chiropractors try to get the most positive change in the body in the least invasive way, with the least number of adjustments possible. Many of the people that we serve appreciate this less is more approach when they see what kind of healing changes that are often possible, often in fewer chiropractic visits.

To put it another way: there is no sense in using a crowbar to open a door when you have the key.

4. There are 24 vertebrae, but only two are named Atlas and Axis.

Of all the many bones in the spine, there are only two that anatomy experts have given special names. They are the first and second neck bones, or vertebrae. They are known as C1 and C2, or Atlas and Axis.

Atlas is a good name for the first neck bone, because like Atlas of ancient mythology, it holds up the weight of the world, which in your case, is your heavy head and all the important brains inside.

Axis is a perfect name for the second neck bone, because it has a unique shape which allows the the Atlas bone to pivot around it with almost 160 degrees or more of motion. In anatomy we call it a trochoid joint, and it is the only joint of its kind in the human body.

Together, Atlas and Axis provide us with some of the largest and dynamic joint movement in the spine, all while holding up the weight of the head. Mechanically speaking, it makes sense that this area is less stable, and more likely to be affected by a minor injury.

As spinal bones Atlas and Axis do more than just provide motion and balance the head. They also provide protection to the nervous system which is housed inside the spinal column. At the level of first neck bone, there are nerve system controls that influence a lot of body systems, including our heart rate and breathing.

It is a pretty important place to work in the spine, and is worthy of a special name.

The thermal imaging scans shown below were taken of a 12-year-old boy whose mother asked me if kids could benefit from chiropractic adjustments.

A simple way to understand thermal scans is to examine the colors. Red is bad; green and yellow are good; orange is acceptable. Start by focusing on the “Before” scan…

See all that pressure along the right side in the upper neck, back, and shoulder area? Adults with this type of scan would almost certainly be experiencing muscle stiffness, soreness, or sharp pain. Surprisingly, this boy is pain-free. Instead, he suffers from nocturnal enuresis, more commonly known as bed-wetting.

Notice how well things cleared up in the “After” scan taken one week later. All he needed was one correction to achieve this level of improvement. His mom is really glad she brought him in!

Not all parents, however, think to bring their children to a chiropractor. It’s not their fault though… Political groups within the chiropractic profession have fought diligently to gain recognition as experts for the treatment of back pain. As a result, many people believe that you should only call a chiropractor when your back “goes out.” Since most children don’t have back pain (or are unable to describe it), parents don’t perceive the need for chiropractic checkups.

Whenever I’m around my niece, nephews, or friends’ children, I can’t help but notice the twisted body positions these little contortionists put themselves into… While not necessarily painful, these activities can easily cause misalignments within the spine. Imagine if adults tried doing this stuff… they’d be laid up in bed for a week!

Good moms and dads take their kids to a pediatrician and to the dentist because its important for their health and development. Receiving checkups from a chiropractor is equally as important.

It’s easier to build a child’s future than it is to repair an adult’s past.

If your son or daughter has never received a chiropractic checkup, now is a great time to explore the benefits of chiropractic care for kids.

Cervicogenic headache and upper cervical chiropractic care

One of the reasons I chose to build my chiropractic practice around the upper cervical spine (the area between the head/neck) was because of the profound results I had personally seen in some friends and family under upper cervical chiropractic care. Stories of MS relief were part of that decision.

Now as an upper cervical doctor, MS often comes up in conversations that I have with friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. People want to know: can chiropractic care help MS? And what about upper cervical chiropractic care in particular?

For some people these are controversial questions, as they fly in the face of some of our assumptions about what causes MS and the role of chiropractic care. Yet, there is a plausible theory at work here- that could explain why.

Find out what I think in this video blog entry. Available in three parts.

MS and Chiropractic Care Part 1

MS and Chiropractic Care Part 2

MS and Chiropractic Care Part 3

As you can see medicine has already recognized that changes in blood flow in key areas of the body (think brain and spinal cord) are related to a number of diseases. MS might just be one of those diseases. And if upper cervical chiropractors can really influence blood flow at this level, then we can see why upper cervical chiropractic is appropriate for MS patients.

Additional thoughts: If you have watched all three videos, you have learned that the NUCCA correction decreases the amount of venous outflow in the brain. One may then conclude that there is more blood perfusion total in the skull cavity, which may mean more nutrition for key areas of the nervous system. How this may relate to a breakdown of the myelin is anyone’s guess. One point is clear: we need money for more research.

Editor’s note: This guest post from Dr. Ian Bulow, Upper Cervical Doctor in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. You can read more about Dr. Bulow and his practice here.

Seizures in children and Upper Cervical Chiropractic

I started taking care of a little boy in the office last week. We will call him “Johnny” for the time being.

Johnny is 7 years old. To see him in the car next to you, you would think nothing of him. But to KNOW what he has been through is a different story.

Johnny came in to our office because a true friend of his mother told her to bring him in.

Johnny gets seizures.

I wonder what that must feel like for him not to have control of his body from time to time (20+ times a day when he first came in to my office.) I wonder what it must be like for a parent not to have control of their child. Not to be able to HELP them when they want to the most.

Maybe I don’t wonder about such things…why would I want to?

So now let me wonder about better things.

Johnny is doing much better now.

His mother took the advice of her true friend and brought Johnny in for an UPPER CERVICAL evaluation. Sure enough, Johnny has a lot of stress in the area of his brain stem. (He should. He was dropped on his head only a couple months before the seizures started, in addition to having a c-section birth).

One SPECIFIC UPPER CERVICAL ADJUSTMENT and Johnny is doing better than he has in MONTHS, and to date he is continuing to stabilize.

Now, who is to blame? An easy question to ask, but the wrong question for such a time. So, lets try again: Who is to thank?

Me? I don’t think so. I simply move the bone, God’s design does the healing. So let’s thank Him first.

Johnny’s mom? Without a question! In fact Johnny’s mom was told NOT to bring her in to my office by Johnny’s  primary care provider. But she did what she KNEW IN HER HEART was the right thing to do: SOMETHING DIFFERENT! (If you want a change in your life then guess what? Something has to CHANGE)

How about the friend of Johnny’s mom? Where would Johnny be today had his mother’s friend not shared what she KNEW about Upper Cervical Care? I dare not wonder such things.

Moral of today’s story:

I want to thank each and every one of you who has made a DIFFERENCE in the lives around you by letting them know about Upper Cervical health care. God does not NEED Upper Cervical doctors to get sick people well, but we sure like being used by Him from time to time. Please give me that gift this year. Please allow me to check those in your life that you feel need a second opinion, need some hope, need their health to be RESTORED.

I pray that you had a safe and wonderful New Year celebration. I pray that you are so incredibly blessed this year that you have no choice but to thank the Lord in everything you do.

God Bless,

Ian

Thanks to Dr. Ian for letting me share this story with you.

Kids and chiropractic care?

It’s physical time. That means kids everywhere are having physicians look in their throats, their ears, and listening to their hearts.

But when was the last time a doctor examined your child’s posture? Or assessed the health of his spine?If all she’s gotten is the “once over” check for spinal scoliosis, then maybe it’s time for her to get checked again.

While children don’t typically have the same kinds of back pain as adults, they still have the same hectic schedules, carry the same loads, and sit for hours in the same desks and chairs, and put their bodies through the same rigorous sports.

And that can mean adult like problems, like headaches, neck pains, and breathing problems. Problems that can originate in troubled spinal alignment.

It’s physical time. After the doctor looks in your daughter’s ears, and checks your son’s lungs, why don’t you head on over to your doctor of chiropractic and make sure her spine is okay too.

You may find those adult troubles go away–as easy as 1,2,3. And that will help him be a kid again.

Editor’s note: This guest post comes from Dr. Adam Tanase, Upper Cervical Doctor in St. Louis, and official chiropractic expert for MedHelp.org.

Migraine headaches: the hidden problem

While science is yet to fully understand the exact cause of migraine headaches, current findings demonstrate vascular and neurological mechanisms. Evidence suggests that during a migraine, dilated blood vessels are sending nerve signals to the brainstem and sensory cortex causing central sensitization. This forces patients to feel pain from sensations that are normally not painful (like pulsating blood vessels), as well as pain that’s resistant to peripherally-focused medical treatments.

The image above shows the base of the skull where the brainstem passes through the foramen magnum. The root/vine-like tubes seen here are blood vessels. This picture demonstrates important blood vessels of the head and their proximity to the upper cervical region. It also depicts the intimate relationship between the the first cervical bone (atlas, C1) and the brainstem.

For almost a decade I’ve been speaking with headache/migraine sufferers about chiropractic care, and more specifically, the Upper Cervical adjusting procedure. Through these conversations, I’ve realized that a lot of people have attempted some form of full-spine chiropractic manipulation (with mixed results), but very few knew about Upper Cervical Care, and were never told there was a difference.

Upper Cervical doctors have a distinct biomechanical and physiological perspective that other health care providers do not offer their patients. Our unique analysis of the relationship between the head and neck is what enables so many migraine sufferers to get lasting relief.

So if you suffer from chronic migraine headaches, Upper Cervical Care is certainly worth consideration.

If you’d like help finding a specialist in your area, email me and I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.

To read more from Dr. Adam Tanase, please visit him at his insightful blog DrTanase.Com.

One generation is showing a strong interest in both wellness and prevention: the Baby Boomers.

In October 2008, the first Baby Boomer filed for social security. Everyday for the next 20 years, 10,000 Americans will become social security eligible. Everyone is watching this generation to see how they will influence America with their buying buyer. Many believe that natural markets, including alternative healthcare, will continue to grow with boomer interest.

What could be the link between the market for natural foods, natural fuels, and natural health? The answer is simple: a philosophy of prevention. Take  chiropractic care for example.

Chiropractic popular with older Americans

According to Ohio State University, 70% of retirees use alternative therapies, and chiropractic is often the first choice. The National Institute on Aging says half of older adults will go to the chiropractor. As the Baby Boomers age, many believe this trend will grow. Experts say that chiropractic is the second largest health care option after medicine, because of its natural approach to chronic health problems.

For many people, chiropractic is at the front lines of their natural healthcare.

Chiropractic recognizes the body is self-healing

While spinal adjustments by chiropractors may seem out of the ordinary to some, the ideas behind chiropractic are not. Chiropractors recognize that the human body is self-healing. Chiropractic credits all healing to the natural ability of the body, even if a doctor does help-out. As a hands-on form of healthcare, chiropractic is 100% drug-free and surgery free.

Chiropractors recognize that all body systems like the heart, lungs, and digestive system are important, but that they take their orders from the nervous system. This nerve system includes the brain, the spinal cord, and millions of nerve fibers that go to the bones, muscles, joints, and internal organs. The nerve system is housed and protected in the spine.

Chiropractic prevention is important for Boomers

Chiropractors recognize that a healthy, mobile spine is important for overall health. Therefore many patients will continue chiropractic care once their health complaints improve. They do so for the same reason that they choose to eat natural foods, recycle, and drive fuel efficient vehicles. Addressing problems through prevention is often more effective than waiting for things to break down.

Will natural, preventative healthcare continue to grow like other natural choices? The signs are positive. Once retirement age approaches, the ability to work is highly dependent on health and mobility. We can expect the Baby Boomers to seek health and mobility as long as possible. That means natural options, especially chiropractic, are going to be important for quite some time.

This article copyright 2009, The Amazing Human Machine, LLC.