What is Atlas Orthogonal

Atlas Orthogonal is an upper cervical technique, that aims at issues that stem from your upper cervical spine, specifically C1, also known as the atlas bone.

The technique aims to help patients who suffer from issues like vertigo, fatigue, tinnitus, brain fog, migraine headaches, tension headaches, persistent neck pain, feelings of instability, and those that have likely tried regular chiropractic without relief.

Your spine in general is amazing and the upper cervical spine is very unique. It moves differently than the rest of your vertebrae and is the reason we have so much movement in our upper neck. It is the reason we can gaze up at the stars and rotate so fluidly, but with any joint that has a lot of motion, there is more likeliness for joint dysfunction. It is also a highly neurological zone that is closely related to the jaw, the vertebral artery (the main blood supply to your brain), and the vestibular canal (which can affect how we perceive motion).

The C1 can be affected in a variety of ways. We generally see a dysfunction in this region after any kind of large trauma, like car accidents, diving accidents, surfing injuries, and more. Sometimes the misalignment does not have to be trauma related, or could be from a trauma from years ago. We often also see a dysfunction in this region in patients who suffer from Ehlers Danlos syndrome, or other disorders that can affect the upper cervical spine.

Atlas Orthogonal Providers are highly trained specialists who spend extensive hours of training post doctorate to become Board Certified in the Atlas Orthogonal technique. It has been developed over the last 60 years by founder Dr. Roy Sweat, a chiropractor in Atlanta Georgia who practiced up until the day he died at age 94 and made the technique his life's work.

In order to perform the Atlas Orthogonal technique providers need to know which direction your atlas is displaced to. To do this, we can feel by hand if there is a displacement. However, since the technique is highly specific, it requires a series of X-rays in order to get your specific vectors. This will be done prior to your first adjustment so providers can ensure they are able to get over your atlas bone at the right angle in order get it moving properly with the adjustment. The adjustment is extremely gentle and involves no twisting of the neck and no high velocity thrusts of any kind.

We do not perform this technique on all of our patients, our providers will determine if you are a candidate through your history and exam. If you think you might be a candidate for this technique please call our office today and let them know you are interested in Atlas Orthogonal to get scheduled for an appointment.

Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic at WildBird Chiropractic & Wellness

At WildBird Chiropractic & Wellness, we offer Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic, a precise and gentle approach focused on restoring balance to the upper cervical spine, where the head and neck meet. This specialized method uses detailed imaging and a percussion-based adjusting instrument to realign the atlas vertebra without twisting, cracking, or manual force.

The atlas plays an important role in supporting the head and protecting the brainstem. When it moves out of alignment, it can affect posture, muscle tone, and the communication between the brain and the rest of the body. By restoring this alignment, many patients notice improvements in headaches, neck and shoulder tension, vertigo, TMJ discomfort, and overall balance.

Atlas Orthogonal care is gentle enough for all ages and is especially beneficial for patients with hypermobility, postural instability, chronic tension, or nervous system sensitivity. The adjustment is subtle and comfortable, yet highly effective in helping the body reset and heal.

If you have been dealing with chronic neck pain, imbalance, or tension that doesn’t seem to go away, Atlas Orthogonal care at WildBird Chiropractic & Wellness offers a precise and gentle way to restore alignment, improve function, and find lasting relief.