It’s like appreciating each brush stroke of a painting, and the whole image from a distance.
How Upper Cervical Adjustments Are Made
In the world of upper cervical chiropractic, there are a number of “schools of thought” and training methods, that break down into three main ways adjustments are performed:
Specialized Table-Mounted Upper Cervical Instruments:
This is how we treat our patients most often. Using advanced tools, the Orthospinology Laney Torque Instrument, we can precisely control: direction, speed, depth, and force across three axes. It’s this level of variability that sets it apart. Other instruments can’t adjust depth, speed, or force. Since every patient and every misalignment is unique, we need to have the ability to customize each adjustment specifically for you, ensuring it’s both gentle and highly effective. That is why we chose this option.Handheld Upper Cervical Instruments:
These tools provide consistent adjustments, but have limited variability and may not address more nuanced misalignments when compared to table mounted instruments. This instrument is also produced by Orthospinology.
We have this option available for a couple of circumstances.
Other Adjustments:
We have systems and analysis for areas outside of the upper cervical spine. We will often use the Impulse IQ instrument (neuromechanical Innovations). It can be used on soft tissue and joints, is very low force and can tailor its speed and pressure in real time to calibrate to the patient and their body.By Hand: Some highly skilled practitioners can perform amazing corrections manually. These chiropractors are rare and will have specific training from Orthospinology, Grostic or NUCCA, so finding one can be a challenge. This is done without twisting, cracking or popping. I’m trained in this method, but it’s typically not my preference because instruments are more precise.
Tools Used for Assessments
NeckCare Examinations
Three precision head-neck functional assessments. We utilize the NeckCare System™, a cutting-edge tool developed in Iceland and the U.S., to objectively measure three critical aspects of neck function:
- Range of Motion: NeckCare provides automated, precise assessments of cervical range of motion in all planes, eliminating the need for manual measurements and ensuring consistent tracking of joint mobility.
- Joint Position Error (JPE): This test evaluates the accuracy of your head’s repositioning ability after movement, a key indicator of cervical proprioception. It’s commonly used in clinical settings to assess neck function and recovery.
- Sensorimotor Control: Through the Butterfly Test®, we assess the coordination between your eyes, head, and neck. This test measures your ability to perform meaningful tasks using sensory information, providing insights into your sensorimotor integration.
Laser-Aligned Hip Calipers
We use Orthospinology laser-aligned hip calipers to check if your hips are level. This helps us see how your body may be compensating to keep your head balanced and upright, and whether your spine is returning to normal after an upper cervical correction.
Your body naturally prioritizes keeping your head level to the world, and it will make adjustments below, through your shoulders, spine, and hips, to make that happen.
Think of a seal balancing a ball on its nose: if the ball starts to tip, the seal shifts its body to keep it steady. Your body does something very similar to keep your head properly aligned.
These calipers work much like a level used to ensure a building or horizon is even, giving us a precise and objective way to measure your body’s balance and progress over time.
Precision Digital X-ray
Accuracy matters. After professional installation, we brought in a national expert who spent two full days fine-tuning our system. The result: an X-ray unit calibrated to a standard 12.7 times stricter than Connecticut’s minimum requirements.
Why does this matter? Precise images mean precise measurements — and that leads to the most accurate assessment, care plans and treatments possible. We also opted for the highest upgrade possible, a cesium panel to enhance image quality, reduce exposure and improve efficiency.
Pupillometry
This gives us non-invasive insight into the pressure in your brain. Because many of our patients mention a sense of “pressure in the head,” and are often suffering with post concussion syndrome, we use an advanced tool called a pupillometer. This is the gold-standard device in neuro ICUs for measuring aspects of brain function without invasive procedures. By measuring your pupils’ size and reactions to light in a precise, objective, automated way, we can assess and monitor intracranial pressure (ICP) in a non-invasive manner.A Comprehensive Physical Exam
When you’re searching for answers that may have been missed, a routine exam isn’t enough. That’s why we dedicate about an hour to carefully evaluate you and the systems of your body, not just individually, but also how they work together (or how they don’t).
Your body is a collection of parts and systems, and understanding how they interact is key to finding the root of the problem. Our exam includes elements you may recognize from neurology, orthopedics, ENT, and physical therapy, combined into one thorough, patient-centered evaluation designed to uncover what others may have overlooked.
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