Orthospinology – Upper Cervical Care

Dr. Dickason specializes in the Upper Cervical Area of the body in order to be able to give his patients the unparalleled results of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. The top portion of the cervical spine is area of the body that we are referencing. This area contains the top few cervical vertebra, the brainstem, and specialized muscles to help the brain know where the body is in space. Upper Cervical Chiropractic Adjustments improves your PROPRIOCEPTION. Proprioception is your brain’s ability to perceive where your body is in space. Most people have physical health issues due to lack of communication between their brain and body. Your human body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. In order to perform these self-regulating, self-healing abilities your brain needs proper input from the joints of your spine. 80% of your nerve cells in your central nervous system are in the cerebellum of the brain are dedicated to collecting joint mechanoreceptor information (joint movements) from the joints of your body. Your cerebellum directly sends neurological messages to your hypothalamus, which directly controls and coordinates your internal organs. Majority of these neurological messages come from the 1st thru 3rd cervical nerve roots. Neurologically, this is the single most important area of the human body! This allows Dr. Dickason to help his patients with various health conditions such as headaches, migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain, upper back pain, middle back pain, lower back pain, sciatica, pain traveling down the arms and/or legs, carpal tunnel issues, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, ski accidents and other aliments.

Dr. Dickason has been trained in numerous Upper Cervical techniques including both the articular and the orthogonal techniques. The main focus is to align the top cervical vertebra under the Foramen Magnum, the hole in the skull where the spinal cord exists. By getting this area of the spine aligned numerous health aliments will disappear as tissues start to heal. The continuation of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care can help patients heal from chronic conditions and also act as a great Prevention/Wellness plan!

Structure

Structurally there are 3 important bones in this area; the Occiput, the Atlas (C1) and the Axis (C2). The Occiput is the bone that forms the bottom of the skull and has the foramen magnum; a large hole where the brainstem exits/enters the cranial vault. The 1st cervical vertebra also called the Atlas is the top bone in the spine. This bone serves as to hold up our head and to give us the ability to have a great amount of head rotation while still protecting our spinal cord and brainstem. There is no other bone shaped like the Atlas in the human body. The Atlas vertebra also serves as the superior point of attachment for the dentate ligaments to anchor the spinal cord and to protect against trauma. The C2 or Axis vertebra is uniquely shaped as well so that the Atlas may smoothly glide in a circular fashion during rotation of the head and neck.

Neurology

Neurologically the Upper Cervical Spine is where the brainstem or medulla oblongata resides. This area of the spinal cord helps to control and coordinate some of the most basic functions of life. This is done through the parasympathetic nervous system or Rest and Digest part of our Autonomic Nervous System. The brainstem controls numerous functions including but not limited to heart rate, breathing, digestion, sleeping, alertness, consciousness, pain sensitivity and many more pathways for the brain to communicate with the body. The Upper Cervical Spine also provides nerve supply to the head and neck.

Your Gateway to Health

The Upper Cervical Spine is the gateway for the brain to communicate with the rest of the body. This gateway or path is crucial for the proper transmission of nerve impulses to and from the brain and body. Simply put, the Upper Cervical Area is the gateway for the brain to control our body and the functions of our body including but limited to the respiratory, hormonal, digestive, eliminative systems. If your brain needs to send or receive a message from your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys or colon that message has to pass through the Upper Cervical Area.