The EASIEST Way to Understand Chiropractic

At Elite Upper Cervical, we often get asked the same question in many different forms:

"What exactly do chiropractors do?" or "How does this help my condition?" 

To help clarify things, we’d like to break down chiropractic, especially upper cervical chiropractic, in the easiest and most relatable way possible.

To do that, let’s start at the top. Literally.

Your Brain: The Most Important Part of the Body

The brain is the control center of your entire body. It’s the organ that sends and receives every message necessary to keep you alive - breathing, digesting, healing, feeling, and thinking.

And because it’s so vital, your body surrounds it with the hardest and most protective case of bone possible: your skull. Nature protects what it values most.

If you remove the brain from the equation, the rest of the body stops functioning. So it's clear why it's the most important part of your body.

But your brain doesn’t work alone.

The Spinal Cord: The Body’s Communication Superhighway

If the brain is the command center, then the spinal cord is the wiring system that carries every message from the brain to the rest of the body and back again.

And just like your brain, the spinal cord gets special protection too. Only instead of a single solid case, it’s encased in 24 individual bones called vertebrae. These vertebrae create your spinal column.

Why 24? Because your body needs to move - to bend, twist, lift, and rotate. These bones are meant to move, which is both a benefit and a risk.

What Happens When Vertebrae Move Out of Place?

Because these bones are moveable, they can also move out of place, something we call a misalignment or a partial dislocation. This is incredibly common and can happen from:

• Slouching at a desk

• Playing sports

• Car accidents

• Falls

• Carrying children

• Airplane travel

• Even birth trauma

In fact, simply living life is enough to slowly shift vertebrae out of their ideal alignment over time.

Misalignment vs. Dislocation: What’s the Difference?

Let’s make this super clear with a powerful analogy.

Imagine your best friend dislocated the top vertebra in their neck. What would that mean?

• It would be severe.

• It would likely be rare.

• It would have dramatic, full-body effects, like paralysis.

• And most importantly—it would be obvious to everyone.

If you saw someone lying on the ground, unable to move their arms or legs, you would instantly suspect a spinal cord injury. Even without medical training, the signs are unmistakable.

That’s a full dislocation.

But what about a partial dislocation?

The Silent Problem: Partial Dislocations

Unlike full dislocations, partial dislocations (or misalignments) don’t completely sever nerve signals, but they do stretch, irritate, and compress them.

This means the brain’s messages to the body become weakened, delayed, or distorted. The result?

• Muscles that don’t fire at full strength

• Slower recovery from injuries

• Chronic fatigue

• Hormonal imbalance

• Chronic tension or pain

• Unexplained symptoms that seem unrelated

These effects may not be as immediate or obvious as paralysis—but over time, they can dramatically reduce your body’s ability to function at its best.

And here’s the kicker:

Partial dislocations are common. They affect millions of people—but because the symptoms don’t scream "emergency," they often go undiagnosed.

So Who Can Diagnose These Subtle Misalignments?

Not your dentist. Not your physical therapist. Not even your primary care doctor.

Only a trained chiropractor, and more specifically, an upper cervical chiropractor, is trained to detect these subtle yet significant misalignments at the top of the spine, where they cause the most impact.

In upper cervical chiropractic, we specialize in the relationship between the top two vertebrae (the atlas and axis) and the brainstem.

These top two bones surround and protect the brainstem, the part of your nervous system responsible for vital functions like heart rate, breathing, balance, digestion, and sleep.

If these bones shift even millimeters out of place, it can create widespread dysfunction throughout the entire body.

Chiropractic Isn’t Just About Pain

Many people associate chiropractic with neck and back pain. And while we do help with those things, the bigger picture is this:

Chiropractic, especially upper cervical chiropractic, is about restoring brain-to-body communication by correcting spinal misalignments that interfere with nerve function.

It’s about helping your body function optimally, not just feel better.

Here’s what that can mean for our patients:

• Better sleep

• More energy

• Fewer headaches

• Improved digestion

• Less anxiety

• Better posture

• Sharper focus

• Long-term relief from chronic pain

Why We Love NUCCA Chiropractic

At Elite Upper Cervical, we practice the NUCCA technique, one of the most gentle, precise, and effective chiropractic methods available.

Unlike traditional chiropractic, NUCCA involves:

• No twisting or cracking

• Extremely light touch adjustments

• Custom measurements based on your unique anatomy

• A focus on the top two vertebrae

Patients often say they barely feel the adjustment, but the results speak for themselves.

NUCCA is ideal for:

• Car accident victims

• Migraine sufferers

• People with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue

• Children with developmental issues

• Seniors with balance problems

• Anyone looking for a gentle, whole-body approach

Why Most People Wait Too Long

Here’s what we often see:

Someone comes to us after years of chronic symptoms, migraines, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, GI issues, and says:

“I’ve tried everything, but no one can figure out what’s wrong.”

They’ve had MRIs, CT scans, blood work, prescriptions, you name it. But no one has ever evaluated their upper neck alignment.

Once we correct the misalignment, the nervous system begins to function better, and the body starts to heal.

But imagine how much easier, and faster, their healing would’ve been if they had found us sooner.

You Don’t Need to Be in Pain to Benefit

Upper cervical chiropractic isn’t just for people in crisis. It’s for anyone who wants to protect their nervous system, maintain healthy alignment, and prevent future problems.

Think of it like dental care - you don’t wait until your teeth fall out to brush them, you do it regularly to maintain good health.

Your spine deserves the same attention.

Let’s Recap

• Your brain is your body’s control center. It’s fully protected by your skull.

• Your spinal cord is second in command. It’s protected by moveable bones that allow for motion, but also create vulnerability.

• When those vertebrae misalign, they can stretch or pinch nerves, reducing communication from the brain to the body.

• This can lead to chronic symptoms that seem unrelated, until you correct the root cause.

• Partial dislocations (misalignments) are common, subtle, and mostly undiagnosed, except by chiropractors.

• At Elite Upper Cervical, we use the gentle, effective NUCCA technique to correct these misalignments and restore nervous system function.

Ready to See If NUCCA Can Help You?

We invite you to schedule your NUCCA Assessment today!