Specialized Upper Cervical Spinal Correction
NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association) develops, teaches, and promotes a gentle and safe form of chiropractic care, with a focus on permanent results. The specialized upper cervical corrective procedure was designed to correct the entire spine back to a balanced unstressed position. This repositioning reactivates the transmission of healing messages from the brain to the affected part of the body (via the nervous system) so the body's natural self-healing process can begin.
Where Problems Typically Occur in the Body
The spinal column remains straight and balanced as long as the weight of the head is centered over the neck. When the weight of the head is shifted off center, due to an accident or injury, the body will compensate and move into an imbalanced position. In an effort to keep the head centered over the neck, the spine and pelvis will twist and lock into a stressed position. back to top
This imbalance shows up with one of the legs being longer or shorter, one hip higher or lower, twisting of the body framework, muscular imbalance, abnormal movement, and over time progressive wear and tear.
How the Imbalance May Affect Well-Being
This adverse body position can cause stress, tension and pressure on the entire nervous system, most importantly the brain stem (base of the brain).This is very important because our body shuttles millions of electrical and chemical impulses back and forth from the brain to every cell of our body each day. Any restriction or distortion of those messages (nerve impulses) can affect every body function. Many of these messages are unconscious such as breathing, digestion, and circulation. If this is not corrected, the long term effect is degeneration of that part of the body serviced by those restricted messages-resulting in mild to severe pain, lowered resistance to illness, behavioral changes, organ dysfunction, loss of mobility in limbs, and ultimately-disease. back to top
Imbalance - In Pictures (click for larger images)
Here is a partial list of conditions that have responded to specialized upper cervical correction:
Allergies Herniated or Protruded Disc
Herniated or Protruded Disc Arthritis High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure Arthritic variantsHip Pain
Hip Pain Asthma Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity Arm Pain Immune system deficiency
Immune system deficiency Athletic injuries Indigestion
Indigestion Attention Deficit (ADD or ADHD) Infertility
Infertility Back Pain Menstrual cycles
Menstrual cycles Bed wetting Joint Pain
Joint Pain Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Learning disability
Learning disability Child Development Problems Leg Pain
Leg Pain Child Sensory Disorders Low Back Pain
Low Back Pain Chronic Facial pain (Bell 's palsy) Migraine headaches
Migraine headaches Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis Chronic infections Muscle Cramps
Muscle Cramps Circulation problems Muscle Spasms
Muscle Spasms Constipation Neck Pain
Neck Pain Depression Nervousness
Nervousness Digestive problems Neuralgia
Neuralgia Dizziness Neuritis
Neuritis Epileptic seizures Numbness
Numbness Ear infections Pain (chronic)
Pain (chronic) Ear ringing or buzzing Poor vision
Poor vision Eye infections Restlessness
Restlessness Fever Scoliosis
Scoliosis Fibromyalgia symptoms Sciatica
Sciatica Flu symptoms Shoulder Pain
Shoulder Pain Frequent colds Sinus problems
Sinus problems Growing Pains Sleeping problems
Sleeping problems Hand Pain Tendonitis
Tendonitis Hay Fever Tight muscles
Tight muscles Headaches (all types) Tingling sensations
Tingling sensations Head Pain T.M.J. Syndrome
T.M.J. Syndrome Head Injury Tourett's syndrome
Tourett's syndrome Head Cold Whiplash injuries
Whiplash injuries Meniere's Disease Spinal Stenosis back to top
(For more information about conditions, click here. If your condition isn't listed, please contact one of our doctors for personal advice)
The True Science of Upper Cervical Chiropractic
The main objective of an upper cervical chiropractor is to restore the entire spine back to a balanced unstressed position. Let us explain how it works at Besso Chiropractic.
The doctor will calculate the exact position the entire spine has tilted, shifted, or rotated from its normal anatomical position.
The slightest degree of displacement of the spine from its normal position can cause body imbalance and brain stem compression-resulting in increased health problems felt throughout the entire body.
By utilizing a formula calculated from physics and mechanics of x-ray, the doctor is able to make the necessary correction.
The doctor then applies a slight pre-determined pressure just below the ear at the atlas vertebrae (first neck vertebrae) to gently re-position the head over the center of the neck. This re-positioning is what restores body balance and removes brain stem compression. back to top
The Difference
A proper upper cervical correction requires NO FORCEFUL TWISTING, POPPING, OR CRACKING, and is barely felt by the patient. It is an amazingly comfortable and surprisingly painless approach to the true physical balance that all chiropractic procedures should strive for, but it is only available through properly trained upper cervical chiropractic physicians.
By correcting the spine with this specificity the entire nervous system begins to function differently. This happens because it no longer has the stress of the entire spinal column at its grasp. It is this balanced and unstressed position that allows the body to stabilize and begin a process of recovery (healing). It is the long term stability of the specialized upper cervical adjustment that reverses the progressive degenerative effects that body imbalance and brain stem compression has on the entire body.
A upper cervical adjustment cannot be made until exacting measurements of body imbalance are determined. After the exam, if it's determined that a patient can be accepted for care, precise x-rays are taken and analyzed before the correction. The x-rays taken prior to the correction allow the doctor to determine the exact magnitude and direction the entire spine has shifted from its normal position. These x-rays are unique to this upper cervical procedure and require exacting standards of x-ray alignment, performance and measurement. It should be noted that because of the care and quality of these films, and by using a patented filtering system, patient exposure is reduced significantly over standard medical x-rays.
The calculated vector the doctor determines from the x-ray analysis is as individual to the patient as their fingerprints. No two formulas are the same. After the correction, the doctor will immediately re-measure the patient's posture and exam findings. If an unacceptable correction was made the doctor will recalculate the x-rays and make another correction to be assured the best correction was made on the very first visit to the office. Most patients can begin to feel relief following their first visit. back to top
World-Wide Support and Continuous Improvement
There are over 250 peer reviewed research articles on upper cervical chiropractic, which are used to further the corrections effectiveness. This research is presented annually at the Low Back Pain Conference, Las Vegas, NV. NUCCA is one of the few organizations within the field of Chiropractic to have established it's own research branch within the organization, NUCCRA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research Association). This non-profit arm of the organization consists of a board of directors who's total years in the field combine for over 100 years worth of clinical and research experience. back to top
Recovery Starts Here - Knowing and Appreciating What You Can Expect
As soon as the specialized upper cervical correction is made and body imbalance is restored, IMMEDIATELY, muscles begin to relax, blood and oxygen circulation is increased, healing messages are transmitted from the brain to the affected area and the body's self healing process begins.
The body has now begun a process of recovery from the long term effects of body imbalance. The body may express itself in many different ways following the upper cervical correction: Alleviation of pain and symptoms Tired and/or relaxed feeling Light headedness/headache Sinus drainage or popping in the ears Joint popping as muscles relax Throbbing or tingling sensations in various areas of the body Muscle soreness over the first few days as the body has moved into a different position Pain in the area of an old injury Skin temperature changes, sometimes perspiration changes Body elimination-diarrhea or constipation Painful areas will shift to other areas of the body Many times discomfort in limbs will begin to move toward the hands and feet and eventually leave the body
The severity of the spinal condition will determine the amount of recovery time an individual will need. Some see relief immediately and while others take more time. Being out of pain doesn't mean your body has healed. Usually it takes a month to recover (heal) for every year the spine has been in an imbalanced position (misaligned). back to top
The Healing Process - By The Numbers
1. The Acute Phase
The upper cervical doctor's first objective is to correct the entire spine back to normal and restore body balance. This reactivates the body's self healing process in order to relieve pain and symptoms as quickly as possible.
2. Body Stabilization and Healing Phase
Most patients get results with the first spinal correction, but the first six weeks after the initial correction is considered a process of recovery and healing. Body balance will be monitored during this period to ensure the correction is maintained and healing continues.
3. Health Maintenance Phase
During this time your body is going to take approximately a month to recover for every year your spine has been misaligned providing the upper cervical correction is maintained.
This phase is where people will begin learning new ways to take better care of themselves, which often times aids in the stability of the upper cervical correction.
If patients maintain their correction by visiting their upper cervical doctor periodically, you can live a pain free life, strengthen your body's natural defense system, and increase the quality and quantity in which you live life.
During the initial stabilization period, a number of upper cervical corrections may be necessary.
Once the spine is in a stable holding position many patients may maintain their corrections for weeks, months, or even years at a time.
Recovery will continue as long as the upper cervical correction is maintained. Patients, who allow adequate time for the correction and stabilization of body balance, will see the best long term results.
If you have read through all of this intense information we would like to congratulate you. We are committed to helping you with whatever health goals you have for yourself.
If you have any questions for our office please don't hesitate to call or email us. If you are ready to become a new patient we welcome the opportunity. back to top
Besso Clinic of Chiropractic, Inc.
Drs. Amy and Geoff Besso
(330) 689-1234
2071 Graham Road, Stow, OH 44224
Background
The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) was founded in 1966 by Dr. Ralph Gregory, a Chiropractor from Monroe, Michigan. Originally, Dr. Gregory studied physics and mathematics, which naturally led him to a more scientific and advanced system of measurement. For many years Dr. Gregory continued his private practice, with patients traveling from all over the world, while also teaching the NUCCA Seminars. NUCCA since that time has developed into one of the most well respected spinal correction procedures in all of health care. The NUCCA procedure has its own research organization (NUCCRA) and holds conferences around the U.S. and Canada teaching students and doctors how to more effectively correct spinal misalignments. back to top
