Re: atlas adjustments and cervical curve

Good questions but a lot of variables.

First the body is NOT bilaterally symetrical. One side is NOT going to be the same as the other. One eye is bigger, one ear, one nostral all the way down to the feet. That presents a problem if you're looking for anatomically correct posture. In other words the perfect anatomically correct spine literally cannot exist in the real world.

Whiplash injury can be serious. There are many different variations of whiplash. The normal anterior posterior whiplash and the lateral whiplash and all the in between area. The injury does indeed cause a loss of the cervical curve. Which is termed "kyphosis" but usually results in a reverse curve.

Of course the proper adjustments at the proper time reestablishes the normal lordotic (forward) curve in the neck. The immediate injury must be addressed to have complete correction of Atlas and Axis. So you're right, the positioning of the upper cervical spine (C1&2) is somewhat dependent on the correction of injuries to the lower cervical spine.

But where the Atlas goes when the lower cervical spine is injured is widely variable. It can get stuck lateral, anterior or posterior or anywhere in between.

What we usually see with a reverse cervical curve is the Atlas is stuck anterior, and won't get unstuck until the normal curve is reestablished. If the injury is recent, say, within a month, it doesn't take long to correct but if it's been there for 20-30 years plan on putting in a good year of chiropractic adjustments to correct it. Then the Atlas will stay put.

The upper cervical spine is responsive to much more than just physical trauma. You're right again about the cranial vault being injured or odd shaped. We see this with newborns. At that age it's easy to fix and I've seen the cranial bones settle right in to their normal place. Which then allows for Atlas stability. It's not even hard to do and I teach the parents how to do most of it.

The Atlas and Axis are so important because the nerves what you would understand to be the "Solar Plexus" originate in that area of the spine and brainstem. So any trauma to that area of the spine can lead to all kinds of "organic" problems. Asthma, B/P, digestive issues, female problems, Migraines, low back instability, all kinds of things. Thus, it's important.

What I see with people coming back from serious illness or even "terminal" is the cervical spine is pretty much locked right up when sick and as they go from being sick to healthy the cervical spine loosens up and they can turn their head again. So there IS a connection neurologically to organ function and the upper cervical spine. Again, it's important.

Chemical poisoning WILL lock the cervical spine, specifically C1&2. And the sicker you get the normal range of motion of the cevical spine will diminish. If the organ is NOT healthy enough to recieve it's full ration of nerve energy from the brain the cervical spine will not allow that full ration to even get to the organ. The organ must be addressed first. So it depends on what is causing the whole breakdown in the first place. Most of the time it's due to trauma but in the case of chemical poisoning C1&2 will slowly but surely lock up and NOT be correctable until the chemical poisoned liver is addressed.

So you're right there are many variables when considrering Atlas, Axis stability and permenent correction.

However, most of the time a couple of good atlas axis adjustments are all that's necessary. 50 percent of all low back pain comes from the upper cervical spine. High B/P, astma, digestive isues, female problems, male problems, imune system ineficiencies, any and all "organ" problems can be caused by Atlas, Axis. After all, that's where the nerves that control the organs originate.

And the nerves that go back up into the face, eyes, and ears, originate in the upper cervical spine also. Thus, ear infections, migraines, sinus problems, etc, can orginate in the upper cervical spine also.

So it all depends on what came first. Chenmical poisoning or Atlas, Axis. Low back injury or Atlas, Axis. Cervical spine injuries or Atlas Axis. Everything is indeed connected.

I wasn't impressed with the Atlasprofalax either because of the above explanations. It's just NOT that simple.

I use whatever works for the patient. I know all the techniques. I use mostly a variation of Plamer and Thompson, even some Gonstead and diversified and the good old activator used as a percussion instrument, not a reflex instrument.

The upper cervical that won't unlock tells me there's other problems elsewhere in the body that must be addressed. And it's usually chemical poisoning. Prescription drugs are the big culpret there. People LOVE their drugs.

A far as devices to help the cervical spine return to normal? Well, lots of good salesmen out there but I don't see the successes they claim. With any prolonged traction devise you risk tearing the annular fibers of the disc. Then you end up with another injury that has to be dealt with. Traction should be applied by someone who knows what they're doing with Intersegmental traction and never for any length of time.

The neck collars are necessaary after a serious injury. But again there are other considerations for neck stability.

Any reverse curve can be corrected by a good chiropractor then it's a matter of keeping your chin up and head level at work. Especially with all the computer work being done nowadays. Keep your monitor in front of you elivated to eye level.

Anyway, without getting real technical there's the basics.

Mechanical stability and neurological function are very, very important. The nervous system runs ALL the other systems. That's why it's the first fundamental of the Natural Healing Paradigm.

Good questions though, thanks for asking.

Doc