NUCCA stands for the "National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association." If it is found that your body is out of balance, the NUCCA Chiropractic procedure can begin to help you start back down the road of recovery. Based on the precise x-rays taken of your body, the Chiropractor is able to assess how to return the body back to the proper position. The good news is this procedure is pain free, there is no popping or twisting to any part of the spine! In fact, when the NUCCA technique is being performed, most patients are unaware that anything is even happening. The NUCCA Chiropractic adjustment is performed by the doctor using the palm of their hand rested against the upper cervical/neck area of the patient. During the NUCCA chiropractic adjustment the patient is lying down on their side. The pressure applied to the patient is no more than the amount of pressure felt with the gentle touch of the hand such as when the pulse is being taken.

How do I know NUCCA will help me?

Body Balance can be measured looking at several things: a high shoulder, tilted head to one side, low hip or even one leg that looks shorter than the other. When the muscles are more contracted on one side of the body than the other from some sort of injury or just plain wear and tear from life, a person may have one shoulder that's higher than the other side or a hip that is higher on one side than the other or even a leaning of the upper body to one side. This body imbalance can be accompanied by many problems, such as tight muscles, pain and discomfort in the body, changes in sensation such as numbness, tingling or heaviness felt in the arms and legs.

How does the body go out of balance?

Falls, accidents, bumps to the head, sports injuries and illness can contribute to the imbalance of the body. When the head is shifted off the center of the top of the neck, the rest of the body will compensate, it is a matter of physics, the body will compensate for the shift in weight. The spine and pelvis will twist and cause one shoulder to be higher or lower and one hip to be higher or lower.

Symptoms often occur in the body along with the presence of body imbalance, symptoms such as migraines, neck pain, stiffness, back pain and sciatica and other nerve related pain such as similar symptoms to carpal tunnel and overuse injuries.

How is this problem fixed with NUCCA?

Precise x-rays are taken of the head and neck area, these x-rays will show the degree of head/neck misalignment and enable the doctor to develop the exact procedure to rebalance the head and neck. The body's posture including , analysis of the shoulders, hips, and muscular balance will also be reassessed to know if the doctor has corrected the problem. Post x-rays are essential after the first correction to know how well the body responded to the correction.

More than half of patients report changes to the severity of symptoms in the first week. The body will start to repair itself as soon as the most optimal position is restored for the neural pathways( brain to body communication). In general, the muscles will start to relax, a person will enjoy more movement and less stiffness and may even sleep better. Restoring body balance allows the body function better and more efficiently.

In addition to your NUCCA Spinal Corrections, the doctors may find specific exercises or stretches for you to incorporate, suggestions for improving your exercise or food and water intake. Finding solutions for your health is a team process and often we find incorporating common sense simple actions, patients get better faster and have more success in the long run.

Our best clients are people who are responsible for their health and want to be proactive in seeking the best ways to take care of themselves and their family. We invite family members and friends to come to an appointment and see what we do and share with them on what we have learned in the quest to get well and stay well. On a typical day at our office, you may find a client who is 4 months old, 30 years old, or even 89 year old. These clients are looking for the same thing you are, relief from pain and sickness and answers on how to get well without the use of more drugs or more surgery. Learn how NUCCA can help you by calling us for a consultation.

Patients seeking treatment at Spine Wellness Center with Dr. Johnson and Dr. Strickland are assured of receiving only the finest quality care through the use of modern chiropractic equipment such as certified radiographic equipment and postural measuring that ensures we are precise, specific and focusing on the real problems. The Doctors and the staff have a genuine concern for your well-being and treat you like family.

* Illustrations are used with permission of Daniel O. Clark, D.C. All rights reserved.