WHAT IS UPPER CERVICAL CARE?

UPPER CERVICAL CARE

Upper Cervical Care is a specialized type of chiropractic that offers an alternative perspective to a wide variety of health challenges.  Upper Cervical Care has thrived since the inception of the chiropractic profession over a hundred of years ago and continues to benefit from the latest advancements in technology and most current research findings which have helped to propel this unique healing perspective into the forefront of current health and wellness practices.

Upper Cervical Care focuses on the top two vertebra in the neck [C1 (Atlas) and/or the C2 (Axis)] and when they are misaligned from their normal position relative to the skull and neck. Physical accidents, toxic emotional events or chemical toxins in the body have all been demonstrated to cause these misalignments (also referred to as Subluxation’s)

HISTORY

Advanced Orthogonal has it’s origins in Atlanta, GA in the 1970’s where a chiropractic pioneer, Dr. Roy Sweat, created an instrument and procedure called Atlas Orthogonal that administer’s a chiropractic adjustment correcting a bony misalignment by outputting a sound wave from a precisely aligned instrument.  When successful, the nervous system is brought back into balance restoring the clarity and quantity of healing messages from brain to body.

After the instruments conception, several of the prototypes were entrusted to handful of chiropractors that were considered to be the best in the profession when it came to Orthogonal based Upper Cervical work.  One of those prototypes made it to St. Petersberg, FL to Dr. Stan Pierce Sr.

Down in St. Petersberg, FL, Dr.’s Stan Pierce Sr. and Jr. have been toiling for years, always trying to keep the analysis and the application of the protocol at the cutting edge of current bio-mechanical and neurological knowledge. The result of these efforts have expanded into what is now termed Advanced Orthogonal Technique and Procedures (AOTP).

Along with the procedures changing, the technology of the instrument and table have also benefited from the most up to date concepts and advancements in the profession.

WHY FOCUS ON THE UPPER CERVICAL SPINE?

This area of the spine is considered to be the “Superhighway” of the nervous system as well as the location where many vital vessels that bring nutrient filled blood and remove harmful waste products to and from the brain.  In addition, a very important structure called the brain stem,which controls thousands upon thousands of processes necessary for survival (blood pressure, heart rate, pain regulation, postural muscle coordination etc.) passes through this region.

When there is a small misalignment in this area, the communication of the signals from brain to body and body to brain become less than perfectly clear and reduced function results.

In addition to being an integral part of the wellness paradigm and bringing optimal function to those who are not suffering from chronic conditions.

HOW IT WORKS

We start by taking precision, digital x-rays and analyzing them for misalignments of the Atlas bone (C1 vertebra) compared to the skull and the cervical spine (neck).  In an ideal postural scenario, a horizontal line drawn through the Atlas bone intersects with vertical lines drawn through the center of the skull and cervical spines should result four right angles (Orthogonal means right angle).

The x-rays are taken from the front, side and top of the neck/skull in order to obtain a combined three dimensional study which can show, in millimeters, the exact twisting and turning of the the Atlas bone.  These figures are then entered into a calculation, using principles from physics and trigonometry, which produce a completely unique formula for placing the patient on the table and the exact angles (vectors) to set the instrument to result in a perfect correction of this misalignment. The patient is then laid down and the button is pushed releasing the percussion impulse.

Every person has a misalignment and a subsequent formula for correction that is as unique as their fingerprint.

After letting the patient rest for a short while to allow the muscles, tendons and nerves to acclimate to their new positions, two follow up x-rays are taken to ensure a proper correction was made.  Once we see that bony relationships have changed to closer to normal, or Orthogonal, on the two post x-rays we know now the nerves will undoubtedly work better.  As well, this results in the connection between the source of healing and function (the brain) and the body having vastly clearer communication.  This is the scenario when we regularly see peoples lives improve dramatically.

Once we have confirmed that the correction received and the formula used was perfect, we never have to take another x-ray unless an accident takes place or there are drastic changes in symptoms.