Most people have a picture of chiropractic in their heads: lying face down on a table, a quick twist of the neck, a few pops along the back, and a schedule of visits two or three times a week. For many people, that kind of care works well. For others, it does not hold, or the idea of having their neck twisted keeps them from ever trying it.
Upper cervical chiropractic is a different approach within the same profession. It shares the same goal of helping the spine and nervous system function well, but it differs in where it focuses, how corrections are made, how imaging is used, and how often patients are adjusted. This article explains those differences plainly, including when traditional chiropractic may be the better fit.
What Is Traditional Chiropractic?
“Traditional chiropractic” is a broad term, not a single technique. It usually refers to full-spine care, where the chiropractor evaluates and adjusts multiple areas of the spine, from the neck to the low back and pelvis, often in the same visit.
The most common method is the diversified technique, which uses quick, manual thrusts to restore motion to joints that are restricted. These adjustments often produce the familiar popping sound, which is gas releasing from the joint. Many traditional chiropractors also use other techniques, such as Gonstead, drop tables, or instrument-assisted methods, along with soft tissue work and exercise.
Traditional chiropractic is well suited to many common problems, such as mechanical low back pain or a stiff mid-back after a weekend of yard work. It is the form of chiropractic most people have experienced.
What Is Upper Cervical Chiropractic?
Upper cervical chiropractic is a specialty that focuses on the top two bones of the spine: the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2). Instead of adjusting many areas of the spine, upper cervical chiropractors concentrate their analysis and correction on this one region.
There are several upper cervical techniques, including Blair, NUCCA, Atlas Orthogonal, and Knee Chest. They differ in their methods, but they share three core principles: detailed imaging of the upper neck, precise corrections based on that imaging, and adjusting only when exam findings show it is needed.
At Keystone Chiropractic, we practice the Blair upper cervical technique. You can read a full explanation in What Is the Blair Upper Cervical Technique? and on our Blair upper cervical page.
Why Focus on Just Two Bones?
The atlas and axis are unlike any other vertebrae. The atlas has no interlocking bony structure holding it in place; it relies on ligaments and small muscles. Together, the atlas and axis support the weight of your head and allow most of your neck’s rotation.
They also surround the junction where the brainstem transitions into the spinal cord, and the surrounding tissue is densely packed with sensors that report your head’s position to your brain. When this region is injured or misaligned, the effects can reach beyond neck pain to headaches, dizziness, and how the nervous system processes information.
Upper cervical chiropractors also consider how the upper neck influences posture below it. Your body works to keep your eyes level, so when the head sits off balance on the neck, the spine below often compensates. The reasoning is that correcting the top can allow the rest of the spine to rebalance, rather than adjusting each compensation individually.
The Key Differences at a Glance
| Traditional Chiropractic | Upper Cervical Chiropractic | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Full spine: neck, mid-back, low back, and pelvis | The atlas and axis at the top of the neck |
| Adjustment style | Often quick manual thrusts, sometimes with rotation of the neck | Gentle, precise corrections with no twisting or cracking |
| Sound | Popping is common | Usually no popping |
| Imaging | Varies; may include standard X-rays or none | Detailed imaging of the upper neck guides every correction |
| How often you are adjusted | Often adjusted at each visit | Adjusted only when exam findings show it is needed |
| Visit frequency over time | Often a set schedule | Typically decreases as corrections hold longer |
| Commonly sought for | Low back pain, mid-back pain, general stiffness | Chronic neck pain, headaches, vertigo, post-concussion symptoms, whiplash, and complex neurological cases |
How the Adjustments Feel Different
A traditional neck adjustment often involves turning the head and delivering a quick thrust, which usually produces a pop. Many patients like that feeling of release.
Some patients are uncomfortable with rotational neck adjustments, and others simply do not feel they hold. Upper cervical corrections offer a different experience. In Blair care, you lie on your side with your head supported on a specialized headpiece, and the correction is a single light, quick input by hand along the specific angle of your joints. Most patients feel very little. Afterward, patients rest in a zero gravity chair for approximately 30 minutes so the correction can settle.
Why Upper Cervical Care Relies So Heavily on Imaging
The joints at the top of the neck vary in angle and shape from person to person, and often from the left side to the right side of the same person. A correction delivered in the wrong direction does not correct much, so upper cervical chiropractors need to see the exact geometry of each patient’s upper neck before adjusting it.
At Keystone Chiropractic, we use three diagnostic tools together, because each one shows something the others cannot:
- CBCT cone beam CT scanning: 3D imaging of the upper cervical spine and craniocervical junction, showing the precise position and structure of the atlas and axis. Keystone Chiropractic is one of very few chiropractic practices in Central Illinois using CBCT.
- Infrared thermography: a noninvasive scan that identifies nervous system stress patterns along the spine.
- The NeckCare System: an FDA-listed functional assessment backed by over 20 years of peer-reviewed cervical spine research, capturing more than 120 positional data points per second. It includes three tests: Cervical Range of Motion, which measures precise degrees of movement in all six directions; the Joint Position Error Test, which measures how accurately you return your head to neutral with your eyes closed; and the Butterfly Test, which measures sensorimotor coordination between your neck, eyes, and nervous system.
Learn more on our NeckCare System page.
Why Upper Cervical Patients Are Adjusted Less Often
In upper cervical care, the goal is for each correction to hold. At every visit, the doctor checks whether your upper neck is still in its corrected position. If it is, you are not adjusted that day. As the supporting muscles and ligaments stabilize, corrections tend to hold longer and visits become less frequent.
That approach depends on objective measurement. Rather than relying only on how you feel on a given day, progress is tracked with repeatable tests over time. How We Track Your Progress explains how that works.
Which One Is Right for You?
Neither approach is right for everyone, and the honest answer depends on your situation.
Traditional Chiropractic May Be a Good Fit If
- Your problem is primarily in the low back or mid-back
- You have a recent, straightforward strain or stiffness
- You have responded well to traditional adjustments in the past
Upper Cervical Care May Be Worth Exploring If
- You have chronic neck pain or headaches that have not responded to other care
- You experience vertigo or dizziness, especially with neck pain
- Your symptoms began after a car accident, fall, or concussion
- You felt better after traditional adjustments but the relief never lasted
- You are uncomfortable with having your neck twisted
- You are dealing with complex conditions such as Meniere’s disease, trigeminal neuralgia, or fibromyalgia
Upper cervical care does not cure any of these conditions. It addresses a specific structural problem at the top of the neck. When that problem is contributing to symptoms, correcting it allows the nervous system to function normally again, and many patients improve as a result. When it is not a significant factor, a good evaluation should say so.
If past chiropractic care has left you frustrated, Frustrated With Chiropractic Care? Why Some Patients Need a Different Approach explores why a more specific method sometimes makes the difference. For warning signs worth knowing with any provider, see Red Flags in Chiropractic Care.
About Dr. Frederick Schurger
Dr. Frederick Schurger, DC, DCCJP, has practiced Blair upper cervical care in Springfield since 2007. Before chiropractic, he earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a background that shapes how he analyzes the mechanics of the upper neck. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2006.
He holds the Diplomate in Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures (DCCJP), a three-year post-doctoral program involving approximately 300 hours of advanced coursework, original research, and a three-day board examination covering upper cervical anatomy, neuroscience, comparative upper cervical techniques, and craniocervical junction procedures. It is held by very few practitioners nationwide.
In 2011 he was named Blair Chiropractor of the Year. The award is selected annually by the President and senior board members of the Blair Chiropractic Members Association, is open to any member of the society, and recognizes outstanding contributions to promoting and advancing the Blair technique. He is also a Blair Advanced Instructor and has taught neurology and upper cervical anatomy at Logan University College of Chiropractic and to practitioners in the Gonstead organization, giving him a working understanding of both upper cervical and full-spine approaches. Read his full background on our About page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is upper cervical chiropractic safe?
Upper cervical care, including the Blair technique, uses gentle, low-force corrections with no twisting or cracking. Every patient is evaluated first, including detailed imaging of the upper neck, to make sure care is appropriate.
Do upper cervical chiropractors adjust the rest of the spine?
The focus remains on the atlas and axis. Because the body works to keep the head level, the spine below often compensates for a problem at the top. The reasoning behind upper cervical care is that correcting the upper neck can allow those compensations to rebalance.
Why are upper cervical patients adjusted less often?
The goal is for each correction to hold. Your upper neck is checked at every visit, and you are adjusted only when findings show it is needed. As corrections hold longer, visits typically become less frequent.
Can I see both a traditional chiropractor and an upper cervical chiropractor?
It is best to discuss this with your upper cervical doctor first. Forceful adjustments to the neck can disturb an upper cervical correction, so coordinating care helps protect your progress.
How do I know which type of chiropractic is right for me?
Your symptoms, history, and response to past care all matter. Chronic neck pain, headaches, dizziness, symptoms that began after an injury, or relief from past adjustments that never lasted are common reasons to consider an upper cervical evaluation.
Find Out Whether Upper Cervical Care Fits Your Situation
If you have wondered whether a more specific approach might help, the best first step is an evaluation. Keystone Chiropractic is located at 450 S Durkin Drive, Ste B, in Springfield, IL, and sees patients from Chatham, Rochester, Sherman, Riverton, Taylorville, Jacksonville, Lincoln, and across Central Illinois. We are open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00am to 6:00pm.
Call (217) 698-7900 or visit our New Patients page to schedule your consultation.