It all adds up

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO CORRECT THE POSITION OF THE ATLAS

 

When the vertebrae that constitute the spinal column are in the correct position, weights are distributed evenly between the two sides of the skeleton. The considerable weight of the head (as much as 5-6 kg) is supported entirely by the Atlas. Misalignment of the Atlas creates an unbalanced supporting base for the skull on top of the spinal column, so that it is no longer perpendicular with respect to the vertebrae, as though it were resting on an inclined plane. This produces a shift in the body’s centre of gravity and therefore an imbalance in the entire posture, from the head to the feet. 90% of all postural receptors are located in the upper cervical spine. They are responsible for sensing the position and movement of the body therefore disbalances in these region have negative impacts on the entire body statics. Most of the static load is transferred to one side of the body rather than the other. This imbalance is measurable with two ordinary sets of scales, which in some cases may indicate a difference of up to 20 Kg. The first cervical vertebra affects the equilibrium of the whole skeleton. The ligaments and muscles of the Sub-Occipital region, in their constant exertion to keep the position of the head aligned with the cervical spine, are under stress and eventually go into spasm.

This can give rise to cervical problems such as tensive headache, dizziness, torticollis, or asymmetrical or limited rotation of the head. In a chain-reaction process, misalignment of the Atlas can cause asymmetries of the entire skeleton, such as one shoulder higher than the other with pain in the scapula, scoliosis, tilted pelvis with consequent danger of herniated discs , pain in the back, the hips, the knees and even the feet. When the posture is not what it should be, permanent muscular contractions develop which, as well as being painful, can cause shifts (subluxations) in other vertebrae in the column, providing work in due course for chiropractors and osteopaths. Subluxations can create persistent compression on certain nerve roots, which in time become irritated. The most common approach used by doctors to treat this irritation is injections of cortisone, which produce serious side-effects. The compression of certain nerves causes “pins and needles” or makes an arm or a leg “go to sleep”, and can result in a malfunction of the respective organs connected to these nerve roots, giving rise to a series of disturbances throughout the body, even in apparently unrelated areas. Another consequence of muscles that are thickened and hardened by the constant tension to which they are subjected is compression of the lymphatic canals, veins and arteries that pass through these muscles, causing a reduction in the supply of lymph and blood and the digestion of the waste products of these muscles. There are certainly other factors to be taken into account that can affect correct posture, but wrong alignment of the Atlas can be absolutely decisive. Experience has shown that in many cases, after a simple correction of the Atlas, the skeleton takes on a more correct and natural shape.