What Is Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic?
The upper cervical area is the top of your spine, where the head meets the neck. Those top two bones protect the brainstem and set the foundation for how the rest of your spine holds its alignment. When they shift even slightly, it can affect balance, posture, and the nerves that run through the whole body, sometimes showing up as symptoms far from the neck itself.
Upper cervical specific chiropractic is a focused, measured way of correcting that area. Instead of forceful twisting or cracking, Dr. Hansen uses precise, gentle contacts to restore alignment at the top of the neck, so your nervous system can work the way it's meant to and your body can heal itself.
How It's Different
Upper cervical specific care is careful and analytical. Dr. Hansen examines exactly how the top of your neck is positioned, then delivers a light, specific correction rather than a general adjustment. It's well suited to people who want an especially gentle approach, and to stubborn problems that haven't responded to other care.
Techniques Dr. Hansen Uses
Dr. Hansen is trained in three upper cervical specific techniques and chooses the right one for your body and comfort level:
- Toggle Recoil: a quick, precise, low-force contact to correct the top of the neck
- Kale HIO Knee-Chest: a specific knee-chest positioning for an accurate, gentle correction
- Occipital Lift: a light technique focused on the base of the skull and the top of the neck
Who It Helps
Because the upper cervical spine sits so close to the brainstem, correcting it can help a surprisingly wide range of issues:
- Headaches and migraines
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Vertigo, dizziness, and balance problems
- Poor posture and forward head position
- Nerve-related symptoms that show up elsewhere in the body
- Anyone who prefers an especially gentle, precise adjustment
What to Expect on Your First Visit
Your first appointment takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Dr. Hansen starts by listening to your history and what you've been dealing with, then performs a thorough exam and takes x-rays if necessary to see exactly how the top of your neck is positioned. He'll explain what he found in plain language and give you a clear care plan. Depending on your case, care may begin at a later visit or later the same day.
Why Hansen Chiropractic
For 30 years, Dr. Chris Hansen has helped Long Island heal naturally from his office in West Babylon. He's trained in three upper cervical specific techniques, and he pairs that precision with a whole-person approach that looks past the symptom to find and correct the real cause. Most insurance is accepted, and we'll verify your benefits for free.
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