Upper Cervical Alignment

The Foundation of Nervous System Health, Whole-Body Balance, and Long-Term Healing

At Atlas Specific Chiropractic in Hiawatha, Iowa, everything we do begins with one essential principle:

‍When the upper cervical spine (C1 and C2) is aligned, the entire nervous system can function the way it was designed.
When it’s misaligned, the body compensates—and problems begin.

‍Upper cervical alignment refers to the structural and neurological balance of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2)—the top two vertebrae directly beneath the skull. These two bones protect the brainstem, influence posture, regulate muscle tone, and serve as the gateway between the brain and the rest of the body.

Even small misalignments in this area can create widespread effects, often leading to chronic symptoms that don’t respond to typical treatments.

Why Upper Cervical Alignment Matters

The atlas and axis are different from every other bone in your spine:

‍1. They Protect the Brainstem
‍The brainstem controls:

-Heart rate
-Breathing
-Balance and coordination
-Sleep regulation
-Digestion and autonomics
-Pain sensitivity
-Posture and muscle tone

A misaligned atlas can create tension, inflammation, or pressure around this area—affecting how the body functions from head to toe.

2. They Influence Whole-Body Alignment
‍If C1 or C2 shift out of place, the body must make compensations to keep your eyes level and your head upright.
This often leads to:

-Shoulder imbalances
-Hips and pelvis shifting
-Uneven weight distribution
-Neck tightness
-Mid-back or low-back pain
-Muscle spasms
-Postural fatigue

Realigning the upper cervical spine often restores balance to the entire spinal system.

3. They Directly Affect Blood Flow and CSF Movement
‍Research shows that upper cervical misalignment may alter:

-Blood flow between the brain and body
-Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movement
-Venous drainage
-Neurological communication

This is why upper cervical alignment plays a crucial role in conditions like migraines, dizziness, tinnitus, brain fog, and post-concussion symptoms.

How Upper Cervical Misalignment Happens

Misalignment can occur from:

-Car accidents
-Sports injuries
-Whiplash
-Childhood falls
-Repetitive stress
-Poor posture
-Birth trauma
-Long-term compensation patterns
-Workplace ergonomics
-Emotional and physical stress

Because the ligaments around C1 and C2 are more flexible than the rest of the spine, this area is especially vulnerable.

Signs Your Upper Cervical Spine May Be Out of Alignment

People with upper cervical misalignment often experience:

-Headaches or migraines
-Vertigo or dizziness
-Neck pain or stiffness
-TMJ/jaw problems
-Ear fullness or tinnitus
-Post-concussion symptoms
-Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
-Trigeminal or facial pain
-Shoulder tension or mid-back pain
-Numbness, tingling, or nerve symptoms
-Chronic fatigue
-Poor balance
-POTS/dysautonomia-type issues

Symptoms can be subtle, severe, or confusing—which is why many patients come to us after trying multiple therapies without lasting success.

How We Identify Upper Cervical Misalignment

‍At Atlas Specific Chiropractic, we use a thorough, precise, and objective system including:

✔ Functional Neurological Scans (Tytron Thermography)
‍Measures heat differentials along the spine to detect nerve irritation and autonomic imbalance.

✔ Upper Cervical Specific X-Rays
‍We take 3 unique angles (Lateral, APOM, and Base Posterior) and measure them down to 1/100th of a degree and millimeter.

✔ Orthopedic and Neurological Testing
‍Range of motion, reflexes, balance, muscle tone, and structural evaluations.

This allows us to determine:

-Exactly how your atlas and axis are misaligned
-Whether it’s affecting your nervous system
-The correction vector required to restore alignment

There is no guessing — your adjustment is engineered with precision.

How We Correct Upper Cervical Misalignment

We use the Advanced HIO Knee Chest Technique (AHKC) — a highly specialized, gentle, upper cervical method focused exclusively on C1 and C2.

What to expect:

-No twisting
-No cracking
-No popping
-No forceful manipulation

The correction is light yet extremely precise, allowing the body to restore natural alignment without added tension or trauma.

What Happens Once the Atlas Is Realigned?
‍As the upper cervical spine stabilizes, patients often experience:

-Improved posture
-Reduced nerve irritation
-Clearer thinking and less brain fog
-Better balance
-Less dizziness
-Fewer headaches
-Reduced jaw or ear symptoms
-Calmer sympathetic nervous system (less fight-or-flight)
-Better digestion and autonomic regulation
-Decreased muscle tension throughout the spine
-Improved sleep and energy

Once the body is aligned, healing often becomes possible for the first time in years.

Why Upper Cervical Alignment Is Our Focus

‍Most patients who come to us have already tried:

-Traditional chiropractic
-Physical therapy
-Medications
-Massage
-Injections
…but still struggle with recurrent or chronic symptoms.

Upper cervical alignment offers a root-cause approach, not a quick fix.
Instead of chasing symptoms across the body, we correct the foundational misalignment that drives them.

Is Upper Cervical Alignment Right for You?

‍You may be a candidate if you have:

Long-standing headaches
Vertigo or balance problems
Post-concussion issues
Neck pain or whiplash history
Chronic neurological symptoms
Tinnitus or ear fullness
TMJ or jaw problems
Chronic tightness or postural fatigue
Symptoms that haven’t responded to other treatments

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

Restore Your Alignment. Restore Your Health.

At Atlas Specific Chiropractic in Hiawatha, Iowa, we help patients throughout Cedar Rapids, Marion, the I-380 Corridor, Cedar Valley, and Eastern/Southeastern Iowa find relief through precision upper cervical chiropractic care.

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

Your alignment matters — and fixing it may change everything.