Treatment option: atlas orthogonal chiropractic
As with its namesake Greek god, the atlas bone holds up the world
What is the atlas?
The atlas is the topmost vertebra in the backbone. It sits right below the skull and articulates (in a fairly complex way) with the occipital bone of the skull.
If you “have your head on straight,” thank your atlas.
The muscles that keep the atlas in its proper place are wired to your eyes in such a strong way that their fibers get activated by merely glancing in one direction or another. Thus, the relative positioning of the atlas (together with the relative positioning of one’s eyes and inner ears) is pivotal in maintaining your sense of balance.
I’ve heard people compare the atlas to a kind of neurological and vascular junction box. Through the atlas flows blood, nerves, and cerebrospinal fluid.
The atlas, in other words, is kind of a big deal.
When viewed from a purely mechanical standpoint, you could say the atlas bone (and its connected joints) functions like a seat post clamp on a bicycle. As with a seat post clamp, it is both a totally essential interface between two radically different parts, and something a lot of people take for granted or overlook—until it’s out of whack.
An overlooked cause of lingering neurological issues
People who get in car accidents often suffer damage to the soft tissues that support and interact with the atlas. And if your atlas gets seriously jacked, your nervous system will be out of sorts—in ways that may seem unresolvable because you’ve overlooked the neck and the atlas.
If you have post-concussion syndrome, you may be so focused on the brain issues, that the neck and atlas issues go completely unattended. In fairness, it’s more than likely that no one mentioned the neck or atlas to you until now. Medical doctors, especially those who rarely touch their patients, may never even clue you in.
The last time I had a head bonk, one of the first things I did was schedule a much-needed appointment with my atlas orthogonal chiropractor. For me, having an aligned atlas is one of the indispensable foundations of general wellbeing. When I don’t need an adjustment, my chiropractor sends me on my way without one. To me, this is the hallmark of a trustworthy and competent provider.
You can find an atlas orthogonal chiropractor by searching for one in your city, or possibly by checking this directory (which may or may not be comprehensive).
Can a regular chiropractor fix your atlas?
As you might imagine, an atlas orthogonal chiropractor specializes in treating and aligning the atlas bone. Can you tell a regular chiropractor to check your atlas and adjust as needed? No. Here’s why.
Firstly, an AO chiropractor uses specialized imaging techniques to perform a detailed and precise analysis of the positional relationship between your atlas and your skull. Based on these findings, she then uses a precision instrument to adjust your atlas—with a minimal amount of force applied at an exact angle specific to your condition.
The use of minimal precision force is important.
Lacking such imaging information or equipment, a regular chiropractor may attempt to manually adjust your neck by rapidly moving your head from one side to another—which can make matters far worse.
To begin with, that particular move puts patients at a high risk of stroke in the days or weeks that follow.
While that move can easily produce a bunch of popping in the middle joints of the neck, it is very difficult to get any movement (much less precision movement) in the atlas using this method. In fact, it can put a lot of pressure on the atlas, which is the last thing you want.
Last, but definitely not least, the end goal of rehabilitating the upper cervical area involves strengthening the sub-occipital muscles that connect the atlas with the skull. This will be made more challenging if those muscles and joints are routinely subjected to the forces involved with manual adjustments.
A brief word about chiropractors
Anyone who’s ever tried different car mechanics soon realizes how much of a qualitative difference there is between one individual and the next, even when those individuals have the same training. Chiropractors are no different.
There are three categories of chiropractor I would consider seeing: atlas orthogonal (preferred), NUCCA (someone who does both NUCCA and atlas orthogonal is ideal), or a chiropractic neurologist (they’ve had a few years of training in functional neurological rehab). Of those three, chiropractic neurologists are the ones most likely to present you with an array of treatment options outside the realm of what you might expect from a chiropractor (for example, cognitive rehab exercises). Here again, caveat emptor (buyer beware).
Other treatment options for the neck
Assuming there’s no structural damage to your neck in the aftermath of your injury, you have several options for neck treatments and self-care, including: epsom salt baths, massage, acupuncture, CBD creams, red light therapy, and a pillow upgrade.
From the outside, the neck appears simple and elegant, but on this inside, it’s an incredibly complex structure. It seems to me that the treatments that benefit the neck share something in common. They are often simple things that yield surprising results. I would include atlas orthogonal in that.
Brainwave is an informational resource for people whose symptoms haven’t resolved after a concussion or mTBI. I endeavor to present this information in a clear and concise way, spelling out what’s backed by science and what remains unknown. Nothing here is meant as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am not a physician or a healthcare practitioner of any kind; I’ve simply had a lot of sports-related concussions and had to learn this stuff the hard way. If you found this information helpful or know someone who might benefit from it, please share and subscribe to Brainwave.