A Complex Problem

What underlying problem are we ACTUALLY solving?

The Atlas Subluxation Complex (ASC). Simply put, the ASC is an upper neck misalignment that is compromising the brain’s ability to heal itself, and, the rest of the body.

The weakest region of the spine is where the head meets the neck, making it the most commonly injured region.

Injury will buckle the head and neck in complex ways and will stretch the ligaments and muscles needed to maintain normal alignment.

The result is what you see here. The head, neck, and Atlas vertebrae (C1) have misaligned sideways from their normal position.

A Gentle, Long-term Solution

Utilizing a very precise process developed by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA), doctors are able to calculate the specific re-alignment pathway necessary to correct the underlying problem, the Atlas Misalignment.

NUCCA doctors can achieve this without twisting, popping, or thrusting into the neck. In fact, most people don’t even feel the re-alignment.

Re-aligning the atlas allows the brain to heal itself normally again, as well as heal the rest of the body.

(It’s very hard for the brain to heal itself, and the body, when there is a traffic jam full of inflammation at the top of the neck.)

A Lasting Difference

The upper neck is the most complex and difficult region of the spine to align, but when correction is achieved, the results can be simply amazing.

How Did I Get This Way?

As you can see, injury can also TWIST the Atlas and Axis (C1 & C2), adding to the complexity of the misalignment and compounding stress on the brain.

The misalignment you see is the result of one or more past injuries.

Injuries can often be traced all the way back to childhood: A tumble down the stairs, a fall off the bike. Or perhaps it was a sports injury or a car accident (even as low as 5mph). Think back, and you’ll probably come up with a few possibilities of your own.

Regardless of the cause, 95% of people are left with an Atlas misalignment by the time they reach adulthood.

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The Bigger Picture

The Atlas misalignment has a Full Body effect.

When the head and neck are injured, the entire body will compensate.

Head & Neck Injury →
Head & Neck Ligaments Stretch & Tear →
Head & Neck Structural Misalignment →
Head & Neck Instability & Weakness →
Head & Neck Muscles Stretch & Tighten →
Back & Hip Muscles Stretch & Tighten →
Posture Imbalances & Lean →
Scoliosis →
Spinal Disc Bulging →
Spinal & Brain Degeneration

Just as driving your car out of alignment causes premature tire wear, long-term atlas misalignment causes your brain and spine to age faster.

Look closely at your family and friends, and you may be able to tell if they should be referred in.

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How Does This Affect My Overall Health?

The brain controls and regulates every function of the body, most of which we don’t feel, or think about, such as emotions, heart rate, breathing, digestion, etc.

The Atlas misalignment compromises the brain’s ability to heal and send messages to the rest of the body.

The Atlas misalignment can cause:

Emotional dysregulation- The amygdala, our “emotional brain”, has a close relationship to the atlas vertebrae. When the atlas misaligns, this alters the function of the amygdala, causing changes in mood and anxiety. Additionally, it is common to see emotional changes upon the realignment of the atlas, as well.
Organ dysfunction – The vagus nerve sends signals to most of our vital organs such as the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines. If the vagus nerve is stressed by the atlas misalignment, one may experience irregular heartbeats, palpitations, breathing trouble, asthma, indigestion, heartburn, and reflux. The vagus nerve begins in the brain.
Immune dysfunction – The body responds to stress by activating the sympathetic “fight or flight” nervous system. The atlas misalignment triggers the sympathetic nervous system, causing excess cortisol and adrenaline levels to be produced, which will suppress the immune system.

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What To Expect Throughout Care

4 Phases of Recovery – Correct, Stabilize, Strengthen, Recovery

1) Correct – Next Appointment

Series of NUCCA re-alignments, and post x-ray imaging.

We will correct your misalignment as far as your body allows.
We want to relieve your pain and symptoms as quickly as possible.

Time: ~90 min

2) Stabilize ~ 3 months

Follow-up appointments (starting with 2x per week) to ensure your proper alignment stabilizes.

We will be battling muscle memory throughout the first 3 months.
We will monitor your alignment, re-aligning you as needed.
It’s typical to meet 8–14 times throughout the first 3 months.
As you begin to stabilize, we meet less often.

Time: 10-30 min/visit

3) Strengthen ~ 9 months

Follow-up appointments (~2x per month) to ensure your proper alignment strengthens.

We will be battling ligament instability throughout the next 9 months.
We will continue to monitor your alignment, re-aligning you as needed.
It’s typical to meet 12 times throughout the next 9 months.
As you begin to strengthen, we meet less often.

Time: 10-30 min/visit

4) Recovery – 1 year +

Recovery requires 1 month for every 1 year you have been misaligned. 12:1 healing ratio.
Spinal degeneration begins to reverse in this stage.
You will continue to recover as long as you are not misaligned for longer than 1 month.
We recommend getting checked 6x per year regardless of if you are in pain or not.
Follow-ups are the best decision you can make to ensure long-term brain and spinal health.

Time: 10-30 min/visit

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

“What should I expect after my first realignment?”

Day OF your re-alignment:

Relax, and take the day off.
Avoid quick head movements.
Avoid lifting anything overhead.
Avoid prolonged abnormal postures.
Avoid carrying a purse or backpack over one shoulder for long periods of time.
Limit sugar and drink water.
Go to bed early and sleep with the appropriate pillow, so your head is not tilted!

Day AFTER your re-alignment

Resume your everyday active lifestyle, listening to your body.
Be careful with strenuous exercise the first 3 days after your initial re-alignment.

Your neck and may be stiff / sore the day after your realignment.

“What should I expect during the first 3 months of care?”

We will monitor your alignment more closely.

When you misalign again, it is essential to realign you ASAP. If you misalign again and wait to get re-aligned 5+ days later, progress will not be made.

After your first few re-alignments, you may notice symptoms that “awaken and disappear”.

Different symptoms awaken and disappear as the brain heals and the spine restructures.

This phenomenon is called retracing. This is normal, and any symptoms that awaken should resolve within 3 days.

You may notice neck “popping”. This is normal and should not concern you.

It is recommended to refrain from other manual neck treatment (massage, physical therapy, etc.) for the first month of care.

“How will I know this is working?”

Your posture and post-x-ray measurements improve immediately upon your first series of re-alignments.

You begin to maintain your correct alignment within 1 month.

You start feeling better within 1 month.

“Why do I need follow-up appointments?”

In a perfect world, we would re-align you once, and it would hold in place forever. Follow-ups ensure that when you misalign again, we can realign you as soon as possible.

Aligned = Healing

Misaligned = Not healing

“Why 2x per week to start?”

It’s common for your neck muscles to pull you out of alignment within 3–4 days of your initial re-alignment. If you misalign again, it’s critical to re-align you as soon as possible. Your muscles need to be retrained.

With time, your correct alignment will hold in place longer, and we will meet less often.

“Will I get a realignment every visit?”

We hope not! Our goal is to NOT re-align you during your follow-up.

This may take a month or two, but we do expect 80% of our patients to begin maintaining their correct alignment within the first month of care.

“How do I graduate through care, and space my appointments out?”

The goal of care is to not have to adjust you at your follow-up visits, as this means your body has maintained its correct alignment from the previous adjustment. We call these appointments “holding visits”. Once you have maintained your alignment TWICE and have TWO holding visits at any given phase of care, then you will graduate to the next phase.

For example: You have just started care and have received your first NUCCA adjustment. Your postural measurements are balanced and your post x-ray measurements have improved.

You have scheduled out your follow-up appointments at 2x per week (every 3–4 days) for the upcoming month.

You come back 3–4 days later for your first follow up. Your posture is measured, and your posture measurements are still balanced. This means that you are still in alignment and do NOT need another adjustment (yet). You are now 1 out of 2 holding visits from graduating.

You come back 3–4 days later for another follow up. Your posture is measured, and your posture measurements are NOT balanced. This means that you have misaligned again and need another adjustment. You are still 1 out of 2 holding visits from graduating.

You come back 3–4 days later for your third follow up. Your posture is measured, and your posture measurements are still balanced. This means that you are still in alignment and do NOT need another adjustment (yet). You are now at 2 out of 2 holding visits. You have now graduated to every 7 days (instead of 3-4).

Graduation phases are as follows:

3–4 days –> 1 week –> 2 weeks –> 3 weeks –> 4 weeks –> 6 weeks –> 8 weeks

“I feel fine, should I still come in for my appointment?”

Yes. We love it when you feel good!

However, just because the pain is gone, does NOT mean the problem is gone, nor does it mean you are in alignment. Remember, pain is the first to improve, and the last to show up. The less pain, the faster the healing.

The upper neck muscles and ligaments have been stretched and injured, and they need time to heal.

“How Can I Maintain My Alignment Longer?”

Relaxation Room (FREE)

After a realignment, relax in our zero gravity chair for 15 minutes before leaving.

Follow Dr. Burt’s Nutrition Tips (FREE)

Limit sugar, bread, alcohol, seed oils, and eating out.
This increases inflammation in your body, slowing your healing

Proper Neck Pillow

Dr. Burt recommends the blue neckbone pillow for the car ride home (FREE) and the Pillowise, custom fitted cervical pillow, for sleeping at night ($149)

Erchonia Low-Level Laser Therapy ($65/ treatment)

Reduce inflammation and improve your circulation and blood flow by recharging your mitochondria (cell’s energy source).

Type 2 Collagen Supplement

Dr. Burt recommends RegeneMax Plus from Xymogen to accelerate the healing of your neck ligaments and tendons.

Please tell others about NUCCA Atlas care, thank you 🙂

NUCCA Atlas care makes good sense. Once you know the difference it makes in your life, please tell your family and friends how it has helped you, letting them know there is hope for their problems, and that suffering is optional.

Thank you for reading through the entire report 🙂

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