A little-known technique called “upper cervical chiropractic” is helping some South Texans find pain relief and easier movement.
Dee Wright, 63, of San Antonio has become a believer. Her therapy began with a series of x-rays to diagnose a subtle problem, a misalignment of her skull and the top bone of her spine called the atlas.
“We take three different views to determine if the top bone in the neck and the skull are misaligned in one of three planes,” explained Dr. Charlie Oliver, a chiropractor and physical therapist. “It would be tilted further forwards or backwards than normal. It can be rotated or it can be tilted side to side.”
Oliver runs Comprehensive Chiropractic & Physical Therapy in Stone Oak. He explained the theory that even a small misalignment from poor posture or injury at this crucial level can lead to pains further down, in the shoulder, back, leg, even knee.
“I was barely walking,” Wright said. “I was not able to do all the functions that I normally do. I was mainly on the couch.”
Using a tiny instrument, Oliver provides a gentle adjustment to ease the top bone in the spine to where it should be. You wouldn’t think something so minor so far away from the site of her pain could make a difference, but it has for Dee.
“So now I’ve had six cervical adjustments and my knee is much better,” Wright stated. “My limp is almost gone and I’m able to function and do the things that I hadn’t been able to do for the past two months.”
Many people have head and neck misalignment and don’t even know it, created by years of odd sleep positions or old injuries. Many chiropractors who use this technique call it a great drug-free choice for many people.
“I absolutely love it because it offers the potential for improvement for anyone,” claimed Oliver.
Some patients find relief after one or two adjustments, whereas others have to come back for regular treatments.
