Atlas Chiropractic

Precise, Gentle Upper Cervical Care Focused on the Atlas (C1) for Whole-Body Healing

At Atlas Specific Chiropractic, our approach begins with one idea:
When the atlas (C1) is misaligned, the entire body is forced to compensate.
Correcting that misalignment can unlock the body’s ability to heal, regulate, and function the way it was designed.

Atlas Chiropractic—sometimes called Upper Cervical Chiropractic or Atlas-Based Chiropractic—is a specialized method of spinal care focused on the top bone in the spine: the atlas. This bone sits directly under the skull and surrounds the brainstem, the control center for every organ, tissue, and system in the body.

Rather than treating symptoms, our goal is to correct the root mechanical and neurological problem that leads to those symptoms.

Why the Atlas (C1) Matters

The atlas is unlike any other bone in the spine:

‍1. It Protects the Brainstem
‍The brainstem controls:

-Breathing
-Heart rate
-Balance
-Sleep
-Digestion
-Posture and muscle tone
-Nervous system regulation

Even slight atlas misalignments can disrupt these signals.

‍2. It Influences Whole-Body Alignment
‍If the atlas shifts out of position—due to stress, trauma, accidents, or repetitive strain—the head tilts, the shoulders shift, and the spine must twist below to keep you upright.
This leads to:

-Neck pain
-Headaches
-Mid-back and shoulder tightness
-Low back pain
-Nerve irritation
-Postural fatigue

Correcting the atlas often improves alignment everywhere else.

‍3. It Directly Impacts Blood Flow & CSF Flow
‍The atlas affects:

-Blood supply between the brain and body
-Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow
-Venous drainage

This is why atlas misalignments can contribute to problems like migraines, dizziness, tinnitus, and brain fog.

What Is Atlas Chiropractic?

Atlas Chiropractic focuses on identifying and correcting misalignments of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) using extremely precise measurements.
Correcting these bones restores proper communication between the brain and body.

At Atlas Specific Chiropractic, we use:

-The Advanced HIO Knee Chest Technique (AHKC)
-Functional neurological scans with the Tytron
-Three specialized upper cervical X-rays measured to 1/100th millimeter and degree

‍This allows us to correct the atlas with extreme accuracy—without twisting, cracking, or forceful manipulation.

Our Atlas Correction Process

1. Detailed Consultation & Neurological Scans
‍We begin with a deep dive into your symptoms, history, prior treatments, and goals.
Then we run thermographic functional neurological scans to detect nerve irritation patterns in the spine.

‍2. Precision Upper Cervical X-Rays
‍We take three unique images of the atlas and axis using specific views that allow us to measure:

-Rotation
-Tilt
-Translation
-Angles of misalignment of the head and neck
‍
These measurements guide every correction.

‍3. A Gentle, Specific Atlas Correction

‍Using the AHKC knee-chest technique, we correct the atlas with:

-No twisting
-No popping
-No neck rotation
-No forceful manipulation

Most patients describe the correction as a light tap or quick, controlled impulse.

‍4. Post-Correction Rest
‍Patients rest afterward to allow the body to stabilize around the new alignment.

‍5. Ongoing Scans to Measure Progress
‍We track your neurological changes over time—so we never guess with your health.

Conditions Commonly Helped with Atlas Chiropractic

‍We don't treat conditions—we restore function.
But correcting the atlas often improves:

-Headaches & migraines
-Vertigo & cervicogenic dizziness
-Tinnitus & ear fullness
-Trigeminal neuralgia
-TMJ/TMD issues
-Brain fog & cognitive difficulty
-Neck pain & stiffness
-Post-concussion syndrome
-Whiplash injuries
-Fibromyalgia & chronic pain
-POTS & dysautonomia
-Numbness & tingling
-Vagus nerve dysfunction
-Barometric pressure headaches

For many patients, atlas correction is the approach that finally makes sense—especially after years of trying other treatments.

Why Patients Choose Atlas Chiropractic at Our Office

✔ We focus only on the top two bones
No full-spine adjusting. No guessing. Just precise, upper cervical correction.

✔ Our corrections are gentle
Perfect for sensitive patients, post-injury cases, and neurological conditions.

✔ Objective data guides everything
We use scans and X-rays—not symptoms—to determine whether to adjust.

✔ The goal is long-term stability
We don’t want to adjust you over and over.
We want your correction to hold so your body can heal.

✔ We often see complex and chronic cases
Many of our patients come after trying PT, traditional chiropractic, pills, injections, or even surgery.

✔ Patients travel long distances for this technique
We routinely see patients from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, the I-380 Corridor, Cedar Valley, Southeast Iowa, and beyond specifically because of our upper cervical focus.

Is Atlas Chiropractic Right for You?
‍You may be a candidate if you’re experiencing:

-Chronic symptoms that haven’t responded to treatment
-Neurological issues
-Head or neck trauma history
-Postural imbalance
-Persistent dizziness, headaches, or ear symptoms
-A feeling that “no one has found the root cause yet”

The only way to know for sure is through a proper evaluation.

Start Your Healing with Atlas Chiropractic

At Atlas Specific Chiropractic in Hiawatha, Iowa, we combine advanced upper cervical care with precision diagnostics and (when needed) mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy for deep healing support.

If you’re ready to explore whether atlas correction could help you!

📞 Call (319) 343-8540 or schedule your first visit today!