Reprinted with permission from Daniel O. Clark, D.C. Copyright 2022 www.uppercervicalillustrations.com

The top part of our head plays an important role in the central nervous system. Sometimes, an injury to the head and (or) neck can cause damage to the upper neck. The atlas (C1) misalignment between the base of the skull and upper neck affects our posture and the central nervous system, and this can translate into chronic pain.

The upper neck houses many important structures near the brain which are responsible for vital functions to survive such as the brainstem, spinal cord, blood and CSF flow system. When there’s a malformation or misalignment in the upper neck (craniocervical junction), this will interfere with the nervous system functions. As a result, a persistent, disordered, twisted body posture remains and stay locked causing further weakness and deterioration. The atlas (C1) misalignment can be one of the root cause of the complex health issues.

Woodfield HC 3rd, Hasick DG, Becker WJ, Rose MS, Scott JN. Effect of Atlas Vertebrae Realignment in Subjects with Migraine: An Observational Pilot Study. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:630472. doi: 10.1155/2015/630472. Epub 2015 Dec 10. PMID: 26783523; PMCID: PMC4689902.

A car accident or a sports injury can be one of the many things that cause the atlas (c-1) spine to misalign. If you have ever experienced a significant impact to your body such as car accidents, sports injuries, falls, or bump to the head, the force on the upper neck may not have been avoidable. Even if the damage to the vehicle is minimal, the body cannot avoid absorbing the forces from the impact.

The craniocervical junction (CCJ), which is the base of the skull and the top part of our neck meet, influences how our brain communicates. This region is not just unique in anatomical structure, but this area coordinates with eyes, ears, both feet and ankle to understand where our body is in space.

The atlas vertebrae misalignment in the upper neck can causes structural and neurological symptoms in our body. It appears that those symptoms experienced followed by a concussion, a whiplash, and the craniocervical syndrome appear strikingly similar to each other.

If you’ve ever had a significant impact to your body, like from car crashes, sports, falls, or even just bumping your head, your neck is likely injured a hit too. Even if the car looks okay, your body still feels the force of the crash. People sometimes brush off whiplash as just a minor injury. But if your head and neck aren’t lined up right afterwards, it can lead to long-term issues. You might get headaches, feel dizzy, have a hard time balancing, feel stiffness in your neck, or even feel tingling in your arms and legs. You might also experience lower back pain, digestive troubles, or just stand and walk a bit differently.

Dr. Hwang provides unique solution to complex health problems. NUCCA is designed to restore body balance and functions by precisely correcting the head and neck misalignment.

The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) has developed a system of precise analysis to transfer exact corrective force needed to realign the head, neck, and the atlas (C-1). This advanced procedure allows us to adjust this complex area of the spine using minimal force, without twisting or manipulative force. By making adjustments to the upper neck, we can restore our better muscle tone balance close to the center.

Dr. Hwang is trained NUCCA chiropractor to provide specific and gentle correction between the head and neck spine. Healing is a process, not an event. The purpose of Dr. Hwang’s care is to help his patients to sustain the correction rather than continuously receiving adjustments.