Atlas Subluxation & C-1 Misalignment
Information On This Page Includes:
An Interview With Dr. Jason Nitzsche,
Q. Are all chiropractors trained to treat and adjust Atlas Subluxation Complex?
- What Is Atlas Subluxation Complex/C-1 Misalignment?
- My Story: How Treatment Changed My Life
- An Interview with Dr. Jason Nitzsche
- How The Spine Influences The Nervous System
- Chiropractic Cuts Blood Pressure
- Advanced Atlas Orthoganal
About Atlas Subluxation Complex:
(C-1 Vertebrae Misalignment)
What do headaches, muscle pain, depression, fatigue. dizziness, ringing in the ear, allergies, and high blood pressure have in common? All can be symptoms of misalignment of the C-1 (Atlas Vertebrae). The C-1 is the top vertebrae connecting the brain stem and spine, and is therefore rich in nerve endings that communicate and send messages to the entire body. When the C-1 is not properly aligned, it is not only possible to experience a wide variety of physical and emotional symptoms, but other chiropractic adjustments may not hold unless the C-1 is also in alignment.
Why is alignment of the C-1 so vital to your health? The nervous system is the master control of all systems of the body, and communications must be unrestricted in order for the brain to be able to diagnose the body’s needs. Imbalance in this system can result in energy blockages which can then become an underlying cause of illness. The proper adjustment of C-1 can remove interference to normal nerve function and create an an environment of health and healing in the body.
The diagnosis and treatment is rather simple:
A chiropractor who is specially trained in either the NUCCA System (National Upper Cervical Association) or other similar Upper Cervial protocol, will do a visual exam as well as a series of neck x-rays to determine if treatment is required. The treatment itself is fast, painless, and very gentle, consisting of very light pressure applied to the neck and or ear. People often comment they "didn't feel a thing." But the results are generally very apparent, sometimes with immediate relief in symptoms.
The number of treatments you will need depends on many factors, including the type of condition you have, how long you have been subluxated, your general health, and how long the adjustment holds its restored position.
For more detailed information and to find a practitioner in your area: www.nucca.org or call the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association at 1-800-541-5799. Two other sites of interest are: www.uppercervical.org and www.upcspine.com.
Thanks to Dr. Jason Nitzsche for providing this photograph of a C-1 adjustmentFor more detailed information and to find a practitioner in your area: www.nucca.org or call the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association at 1-800-541-5799. Two other sites of interest are: www.uppercervical.org and www.upcspine.com.
How A Diagnosis of Atlas Subluxation Complex Changed My Life
I was reluctant when my alternative practitioner suggested I consult with a chiropractor specialzing in upper cervical adjustments as I had a very negative chiropractic experience in the past. But after more than 10 years of suffering with vertigo, dizziness, and fatigue, I was desperate and decided to go for a consultation. What I was blessed to discover is that Atlas Subluxation (C-1 Misalignment) was a huge contributor to my debilitating symptoms. It is likely my C-1 had been out of alignment for many, many years...and therefore it took a while for the treatments to take hold. But without a doubt this treatment has greatly aided in my healing, as well as my overall health and sense of well-being.
The initial visit consisted of a visual exam and x-rays. Once it was confirmed that my C-1 was out of alignment I was pleasantly surprised to find the adjustment technique to be fast, easy...and painless!
The initial visit consisted of a visual exam and x-rays. Once it was confirmed that my C-1 was out of alignment I was pleasantly surprised to find the adjustment technique to be fast, easy...and painless!
Treatment has provided dramatic relief from my symptoms. I know when my C-1 is out because my symptoms begin to flare-up: headaches, lower back pain, even mild depression. If I go without treatment for too long the results can be more severe - dizziness, constipation, and vertigo. Even after all this time I am always amazed as to how immediate the relief from symptoms can be after an adjustment. Even the degenerative discs in my neck and back no longer cause me discomfort as long as I am in alignment.. Although not everyone has immediate relief, in my experience with the proper adjustment and a little patience, the results can be remarkable.
If you suffer with the symptoms described above and the root cause has eluded you ,or if you have an undiagnosed illness and have not found relief through any other means, I recommend you consider investigating Atals Subluxation (C-1 Misalignment) as the culprit! ~ Andrea
An Interview With Dr. Jason Nitzsche,
Chiropractor and ASC Specialist
August 2009
Q. Are all chiropractors trained to treat and adjust Atlas Subluxation Complex?
Dr. Nitzsche: Most, if not all chiropractors will consider the atlas as a possible point of subluxation/misalignment and manipulate it based on their findings. However, that is where it typically ends. NUCCA doctors approach the atlas subluxation as something much more “complex” requiring a much more detailed analysis therefore leading to a much more complete correction. This means that additional adjustments throughout the spine are not typically necessary.
Q: Can you give a little background/history about ASC: how this misalignment condition was discovered, how long ago, etc.
Dr. Nitzsche: As with most discoveries, the ASC is not the result of an overnight discovery but instead the result of years of evolving research. This history of chiropractic goes back a century and the history of the ASC is a culmination of all those years as a result of the research of many doctors, but ASC was actually named by Dr. Gregory under the NUCCA technique. NUCCA stands for National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. Chiropractic’s origins were segmental at first – approaching different segments in the spine. With time and research the importance of the top of the spine, the upper cervical region, became apparent. In essence, the segmental areas were not the root cause. It is the upper cervical region – the atlas bone that is the cause and all else are the effects - thus the Atlas Subluxation Complex.
Q: What are the most common symptoms associated with ASC?
Dr. Nitzsche: Since the misalignment of the spinal column puts pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves, the effects of misalignments can be seen throughout the entire body.
Misalignment of adult spines can lead to:
Neck Pain, Back Pain, Leg & Arm Pain/Numbness/Tingling, Rib Pain, Tension Headaches, Nervousness/Anxiety, Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Collitis, Sinus Congestion, Colds & Flu, Constipation/Irregularity, Asthma, Allergies, ADD/ADHD, Depression, Seizures, TMJ Pain/Popping, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia Pain, Dizziness, Energy Swings, Mood Swings, Indigestion, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bell's Palsy, Sleep Disturbance, Morning Stiffness, Stress Headaches, Migraines, Acid Reflux, Hemorrhoids, Decreased Mental Clarity
Misalignment of children's spines can lead to:
"Growing" Pains, Earaches/Ear infections, Motion Sickness , Headaches, Circulatory Problems, Asthma, Projectile Vomiting, Bed-wetting , Seizures, ADD/ADHD, Stomach Pain, Difficulty eating, Colic, Learning Disorders, Constipation, Allergies, Food sensitivities, Difficulty Walking, Difficulty Crawling, Mood Swings, Irritability, Difficulty holding head up, Lack of Coordination, Depression
Q: Can you describe how you go about diagnosing the condition, and how you treat it."Growing" Pains, Earaches/Ear infections, Motion Sickness , Headaches, Circulatory Problems, Asthma, Projectile Vomiting, Bed-wetting , Seizures, ADD/ADHD, Stomach Pain, Difficulty eating, Colic, Learning Disorders, Constipation, Allergies, Food sensitivities, Difficulty Walking, Difficulty Crawling, Mood Swings, Irritability, Difficulty holding head up, Lack of Coordination, Depression
Dr. Nitzsche: The first thing that needs to be done with all patients is to establish if we can help them – if they do have Atlas Subluxation Complex. The first step is a detailed history on the patient followed by an extensive examination that includes a hands-on evaluation of the spine, top to bottom, active range of motion testing, postural evaluation, thermal gradient variations, and surface EMG scans. If the doctor finds these tests point towards Atlas Subluxation Complex then specific X-rays of the spine will be taken followed by a detailed analysis. Based on the measurements taken on these films the doctor will be able to see the position of the atlas and make a final determination whether or not the patient has Atlas Subluxation Complex.
Q: How many treatments are generally required before someone can expect results?
Dr. Nitzsche: The number of treatments necessary will vary from patient to patient. Factors that may affect the amount of treatments could include how long the atlas subluxation complex has been present, how much spinal degeneration has occurred as a result, the patient’s activities/lifestyle, and the patient’s compliance with the recommended care.
One big advantage to the NUCCA procedure is that it does take fewer visits than the average chiropractic experience. The goal is to correct the patient’s spine in as few corrections as possible in order to achieve stability. With stability comes healing, and healing brings long term relief, but more importantly, it brings balance to the spine by removing the Atlas Subluxation Complex and restoring health.
Q: How important is an aligned spine to one's overall health?
Q: How important is an aligned spine to one's overall health?
Dr. Nitzsche: Very important! You’re body needs to have free communication from your brain to your body. That connection is made via the spinal cord. If your spine is not aligned and out of balance it creates pressure on the nervous system – the central nervous system. Everything is controlled and coordinated by this system.
Our bodies have the ability to heal. This is evident by a cut on your hand that eventually goes away. What happened there? The brain saw a problem, reacted, and healed. What controlled that? The central nervous system. What protects the central nervous system? The spine. Also, you’ve probably heard someone refer to something as “the backbone of _______,” for example, “he’s the backbone of the company.”, “the backbone of America”, or the sun might be referred to as being “the backbone of our solar system.” Why did the use of the word come about? It’s because the backbone, aka the spine, is absolutely essential to the overall condition of our bodies.
Studies have shown that have your spine adjusted into alignment increases your body’s immune response as much as 400%. How’s that for being important to health! I have a great example with a patient I see. T-cells are a type of cell in your body designed to fight infection. They are an immune response cell. One of my patients is HIV+ and as a result is constantly having her T-cells monitored by her doctors. She came into our office. After evaluation it was determined that she did have Atlas Subluxation Complex, and thus has been under my care. Since she came to our office her T-cell count has been consistently higher. Again, that means her immune system is working BETTER!
Q: How would one go about finding a doctor that is trained to treat this condition?
Dr. Nitzsche: Unfortunately, it is a small percentage of chiropractors that do this technique and it can be hard to find someone. We actually see people travel a long way to come to our office since there isn’t anyone in their area. Many of us are strictly referral based, such as myself. However, there are websites where doctors that are trained in this specialized technique this will list themselves. Here’s a list of some sites: www.nucca.org www.uppercervical.org www.upcspine.com
Q: Do you have any general tips or suggestions for keeping the spine in proper alignment, particularly those who are undergoing chiropractic treatment?
Dr. Nitzsche: First and foremost it’s imperative that you are first checked by a doctor trained in this specialty. ASC is not something that will “self-correct”. Also, the doctor will check you based on your specific response – keep to his recommended care plan for you.
In addition to being managed by the doctor there are proactive things that can be done by the patient to maintain the correction.
• Try to stand as erect as possible, with your shoulders, back and head centered directly over the spine.
• Try to sit in the same manner.
• Don’t sit with legs crossed except at the ankles.
• Lift objects close to body using knees.
• Use a good firm mattress. Never sleep on your stomach.
• Use a properly fitting cervical pillow.
Dr. Jason Nitzsche is a chiropractor specializing in the NUCCA technique, and treatment of Altas Subluxation Complex.Dr. Nitzsche's office is located in College Park, Florida. His website: www.orlandospinecenter.com has great information about NUCCA and Atlas Subluxation. He can also be reached at 407-578-2225. Dr. Nitzsche offers a FREE CONSULTATION* to anyone who mentions• Try to stand as erect as possible, with your shoulders, back and head centered directly over the spine.
• Try to sit in the same manner.
• Don’t sit with legs crossed except at the ankles.
• Lift objects close to body using knees.
• Use a good firm mattress. Never sleep on your stomach.
• Use a properly fitting cervical pillow.
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