The Waynesville Chiropractor to see - Chiropractor Waynesville

Frequently Asked Questions

The Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal Difference

The Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor's work focuses on the correction of the atlas (C1) and sometimes the axis (C2). These are the two-ounce bones that surround your brain stem at the base of your skull. During your initial consultation with an upper-cervical chiropractor, you will learn why the position of the atlas is the cornerstone of the health of your entire body. The UC chiropractor may adjust other parts of your spine as well. If the UC chiropractor does adjust different parts of the spine, it is done gently, being careful not to jeopardize the atlas correction. The doctor knows that putting the atlas, the top vertebrae of the spine, back into its proper position can enable the entire spine and pelvis to correct on their own. Body balance is restored and cord irritation is removed. This enables healing to begin flowing from head to toe.
 
The Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor will NEVER adjust you unless he knows exactly how to correct the atlas, based upon information primarily gathered from x-rays. The UC chiropractor will check the length of your legs to determine body balance and will perform a manual spinal exam, looking for signs of cord irritation. Upon determining that the atlas is misaligned, your doctor will take a set of pre x-rays of your neck. Some UC chiropractors also take x-rays of the full spine. The Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor will make an intensive analysis of the position of the atlas to determine how it has shifted, tilted, or rotated out of its proper position. This is the key to his work and must be done prior to the initial correction. The UC chiropractor is not interested in simply moving the bone. His/her goal is to place the bone back into its correct position or as close to it as possible. You will be shown your x-rays so that you can see for yourself how far out of the proper position your atlas has moved. When you see your x-rays, you will begin to understand why a misaligned atlas could be a major reason that you have hurt for so long. This is true even in areas that are as far removed from your neck as your feet, or in parts of your body you wouldn't think would be helped at all by having your atlas corrected.
 
Once the x-ray analysis is complete, the Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor corrects the atlas using a precise, directed, highly controlled procedure, which is done by instrument. It utilizes a percussion wave that is barely felt by the patient. There is NO forceful torquing, twisting, or popping of the neck with the Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal adjustment. Yet, it requires extensive training to master because Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal specific procedures are some of the most complex chiropractic techniques to learn.

The Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor always takes a post x-ray or performs a manual exam of the neck immediately after the first adjustment to determine how well he has made the correction. The post x-ray and/or manual exam are a cornerstone of Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal work. It enables the doctor to know that the correction he calculated from the x-ray analysis is the right one for future adjustments. The post x-ray is generally necessary only once. You will be shown the post x-ray so that you can actually see the difference between the pre and post x-rays. The moment the atlas is corrected, healing begins, even though you may not feel it immediately.

The Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor is NOT interested in having you in his office three times a week for the rest of your life. However, he must stabilize the position of your atlas/axis if healing is to take place. Many people require multiple corrections before that is possible. Even though the Upper Cervical/Atlas Orthogonal doctor is committed to moving you from crisis care - if that is your situation - into recovery with as few adjustments as possible, the number of corrections you will need will depend upon how long you've had your condition and how serious it is. Even after you stabilize, it is a must that you get checked regularly. Pain is often the last symptom to occur when the atlas moves out of position. But once it moves, degeneration of the nerve tissue begins again. To avoid this, it is cost-effective for you to adopt a lifetime wellness program that helps your body stay balanced.

For more info, please visit: www.atlasorthogonality.com