NUCCA chiropractic care is the gentle technique featured on Good Morning America, Public Television, and Discovery Health. Dr. Mario Chavez is one of only a few hundred NUCCA doctors in the United States, and one of only a few in the Denver area.
What is NUCCA?
The NUCCA chiropractic method is a gentle and safe form of chiropractic care, with a focus on permanent results. The NUCCA procedure was designed to correct the entire spine back to a balanced unstressed position. The NUCCA chiropractic technique works because repositioning the spine 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.
With the NUCCA correction method, the spinal column remains straight and balanced where the weight of the head is centered over the neck.
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.
NUCCA recognizes that this 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 distortion 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. The NUCCA chiropractor understands and works to address these alignment issues with the NUCCA technique.
Keep reading about NUCCA chiropractic care:
- What is the Atlas bone?
- Why is the Atlas so important?
- What is the nervous system?
- What does the upper neck have to do with the nervous system?
- How does the Atlas get misaligned?
- What does this mean for me?
- Why is body balance so important?
- What are the lasting effects of NUCCA care?
- What conditions are known to improve in association with NUCCA care?
- Can I benefit from NUCCA care?
What is the Atlas bone?
The atlas is the top-most vertebra in the spine. The Atlas, along with the Axis, forms the joint connecting the skull and spine. The atlas and axis are specialized to allow a greater range of motion than normal vertebrae. They are responsible for the nodding and rotation movements of the head.
The Atlas is a ring-like bone which surrounds the area below the brain stem. When the Atlas bone is misaligned, referred to as the Atlas Subluxation Complex Syndrome (ASC), pressure is place on the brain stem causing far-reaching neurological effects.
Why is the Atlas so important?
The position of the Atlas is critical to the proper function of the nervous system. When it is mis-aligned, it can put pressure on the nervous system, near the brainstem, causing a number of problems. The brain stem plays a very important role in the function of the central nervous system, the body’s control center. The communication system between the brain and the nerves become compromised, and major and minor dysfunctions occur.
What is the nervous system?
The nervous system consists of the brain, the brainstem, the spinal cord, and the nerves that go to all tissues, muscles, and organs throughout the body. It is the control system that regulates and orchestrates every function within the body.
The nervous system has four primary functions:
- The control and regulation all vital body functions (ie. circulation, breathing, digestions, etc.)
- Activation of the muscles allowing us to move
- Allows us to sense, perceive and feel
- Relates us to the world outside (how we learn, experience and behave, etc.)
The Atlas and the nervous system
The Atlas is more likely to become misaligned than other vertebrae in the body. That’s because in God’s great design, we were created for a greater range of motion between the head and neck, which is allowed by no strong inter-vertebral discs discs above or below the Atlas. This also means it is the weakest link, and when the Atlas becomes mis-aligned, like the top link in a chain, the rest of the spine follows suit.
How does the Atlas become misaligned?
Accidents and injuries throughout one’s life can create or contribute a misalignment. The injury can occur as early as the birthing process, during one’s early developmental stages, from a sports injury, car accident, or something as simple as sleeping in an awkward position. Even a minor spinal trauma will affect the nervous system and interfere with normal growth and healthy function. Accumulative repetitive stress injuries occur throughout one’s life, and left uncorrected, these small traumas can have far-reaching effects.
What does this mean for me?
When a person has an Atlas bone misalignment, several things may happen.
Their head may tilt or rotate, sometimes subtly or obviously. When the brain stem is under pressure, the paraspinal muscles on one side will contract causing the shoulder to lift on one side, and in further efforts to maintain balance, the opposite hip will drop, and one leg will appear to be short.
The following is a list of noticeable physical effects:
- Shorter range of motion
- Uneven wear and tear on muscles and joints (ie, hips and knees) and greater likelihood of stress and injury over time
- Decreased energy utilization
- Loss of complete coordination
There are many effects that may go unseen..
Why is body balance so important?
Extensive research and clinical studies show that improved body balance effectively reduces tension throughout the body, helping to relieve pain and stress, and enhance physical performance. Better balance is critical for performance and optimum health. Without body balance, normal body motion becomes abnormal, and places uneven wear and tear on bones and joints, making them more likely to be injured.
What are the lasting effects of NUCCA care?
Because of the relationship between the Atlas, the whole spine, and the function of the nervous system, NUCCA chiropractic has been known to help people with many different kinds health complaints.
While NUCCA isn’t a treatment for any one condition, new body balance will help with proper nerve function, and in turn, many conditions are known to improve in association with NUCCA care.
What conditions are known to improve in association with NUCCA care?
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- ADD or ADHD
- Back Pain
- Bed Wetting
- Carpal Tunnel
- Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Constipation
- Depression
- Digestive Problems
- Ear Infections
- Female Disorders
- Digestive Problems
- Ear Infections
- Fibromyalgia
- Frequent Colds
- Hacking Cough
- Headaches (all types)
- Migraines
- Herniated Disk
- Neck Pain
- Numbness
- Poor Vision
- Sciatica
- Sinus Problems
- Tendinitis
- T.M.J. Disorder
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Whiplash
Can I benefit from NUCCA care?
Do you suffer from one of the conditions mentioned above? Are you concerned with wellness, improving your posture, or your athletic performance? Do you have a health concern that hasn’t yet been helped by other kinds of care?
You may benefit from NUCCA chiropractic care.
There are also physical signs that you may have an Atlas misalignment. You can take our at-home quiz to find out if you might be a candidate for NUCCA care.
