The Atlas (C1)
IS YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT?
| Many years of clinical research points to the fact that most of the problem associated with spinal misalignment and its consequences can be associated with the atlas vertebra, the top cervical bone in the neck.This single bone can effect the alignment of the entire spine.The spine is like a chain—when the first link is twisted and turned, each link down to the last turns—thereby disrupting the rest of the chain.Consider the atlas the first and therefore the most important link in that chain.
The human body is balanced when the head is positioned in the center of the feet. When the atlas is misaligned it causes the head to tilt. The spine then shifts to support the weight of the head, thereby creating biomechanical and postural stresses and strains. When the atlas bone is properly aligned, that is in the neutral position, the rest of the spinal vertebra come into better alignment allowing the body to heal itself. The delicate and complex connections of the nervous system allow communication between the systems of the body. . |
|
|
|
|
| The atlas vertebra weighs a mere two ounces and the human head weighs 9 to 17 pounds. The name ATLAS came from the comparison of the Greek mythology figure, Atlas, who carried the world on his shoulders.The atlas is located directly under the head, connecting the head to the rest of the spine.The atlas supports the weight of the head most efficiently in the orthogonal, or neutral position.Trauma in one form or another is the primary cause of misalignment.
When the atlas vertebra is subjected to stresses and strains, it may be pushed out of proper alignment.Trauma may include the birthing process, car accidents (no matter how minor and regardless of immediate symptoms), slips and falls, blows to the head, or sports related injuries. Repetitive micro traumas, such as bad sleeping habits, poor posture, incorrect lifting and carrying can also cause misalignment. . |
|
|
|
|
| Once the atlas is moved out of the neutral position the body will compensate to maintain its center of gravity. It does this by keeping the head directly over the center of the feet. To maintain this level position of the head, the rest of the spine is thrown out of alignment. The body alters its structure in such a way that the muscles contract to cause one leg to appear shorter.In most cases one leg is not actually shorter than the other, but is drawn short due to the body’s compensation for the displaced atlas.The resulting misalignment may cause nerve pressure and inflammation causing a disruption of the normal functioning of the nervous system. This one dysfunction may play a role in a multitude of symptoms and pain in different areas of the body.
Besides directly impacting the neck, we can see other effects such as decreased curves in the neck, scoliosis, and changes in the alignment in the shoulders and pelvis. These changes in the alignment affect the structural integrity of the skeletal system AND proper function of the nervous system. When either system is compromised, a host of other problems can occur ranging from headaches and neck pain to behavioral problems and learning difficulties or even poor digestion. . |
|
