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The Link Between Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Better Breathing Patterns

4/7/2025

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The Link Between Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Better Breathing Patterns
Breathing is an automatic function essential for delivering oxygen to the body and maintaining cellular energy. However, many people experience restricted breathing patterns without realizing it. Factors like poor posture, stress, spinal misalignments, and nervous system imbalances can all contribute to shallow, inefficient breathing.

While most people associate breathing issues with lung conditions, the upper cervical spine plays a key role in respiratory function. When misalignments affect the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae, they can disrupt nerve signals to the diaphragm and respiratory muscles, making breathing less efficient.

Dr. Joey Miles at Healthy Living Spinal Care in Hickory, NC, explains how upper cervical chiropractic care can improve breathing patterns by restoring spinal alignment and nervous system function.
​

How Spinal Alignment Affects Breathing


​The
nervous system controls breathing, with the brainstem regulating respiratory rate, lung expansion, and oxygen exchange. The atlas and axis vertebrae at the top of the spine protect the brainstem, ensuring proper communication between the brain and body.


When the upper cervical spine is misaligned, it can create interference in the nervous system, leading to:
​
  • Restricted diaphragm movement
  • Shallow chest breathing instead of deep, efficient breathing
  • Reduced lung expansion and oxygen intake
  • Increased respiratory tension due to nervous system stress

​By restoring proper alignment to the upper cervical spine, chiropractic care can help optimize breathing patterns and improve oxygen delivery throughout the body.
​

The Role of the Diaphragm in Breathing Efficiency


​The diaphragm is the primary muscle responsible for breathing, contracting and relaxing to control airflow. However, its function relies heavily on nerve signals from the phrenic nerve, which originates in the cervical spine (C3-C5).

When the upper cervical spine is misaligned, it can disrupt phrenic nerve function, leading to:
​
  • Shallow, inefficient breathing
  • Difficulty taking deep breaths
  • Chest tightness or tension
  • Reduced oxygen circulation

Upper cervical chiropractic care helps remove nerve interference, allowing the diaphragm to work optimally, leading to deeper, more controlled breathing.

How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Improves Breathing Patterns

How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Improves Breathing Patterns

1. Restoring Nervous System Communication


The brainstem, housed in the upper cervical spine, controls involuntary functions like breathing. When misalignments interfere with brainstem communication, the autonomic nervous system may become imbalanced, affecting respiratory rate and efficiency.

Upper cervical adjustments:
​
  • Enhance brainstem function, improving respiratory rhythm.
  • Reduce nerve interference, supporting diaphragm movement.
  • ​Help regulate the body's oxygen and carbon dioxide balance for better endurance and energy levels.
​

2. Improving Posture for Optimal Lung Expansion


​Poor posture, especially from
slouching or forward head positioning, compresses the ribcage and lungs, making it harder to breathe deeply. Misalignment in the upper cervical spine contributes to postural imbalances that restrict breathing.


Upper cervical chiropractic care:
​
  • Encourages an upright posture, allowing for full lung expansion.
  • Reduces muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, preventing breathing restrictions.
  • Supports ribcage mobility, optimizing airflow and oxygen absorption.
​

3. Reducing Stress and Anxiety-Induced Breathing Issues


​Stress activates the
sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response), leading to shallow, rapid breathing that reduces oxygen intake. Many people with chronic stress develop habitual breathing dysfunctions, which can lead to:


  • Hyperventilation and dizziness
  • Tension in the chest and throat
  • Fatigue due to low oxygen levels

Upper cervical adjustments help regulate the nervous system, shifting the body into a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state, which:
​
  • Promotes slow, deep breathing
  • Reduces tension in respiratory muscles
  • Encourages relaxation and better oxygenation
​

4. Enhancing Athletic Performance and Endurance


​For athletes and active individuals,
breathing efficiency is critical for stamina, endurance, and muscle performance. Restricted breathing can limit oxygen delivery to muscles, causing early fatigue and decreased performance.


Upper cervical chiropractic adjustments:
​
  • Improve lung capacity for better endurance.
  • Increase oxygen circulation to support muscle recovery.
  • Promote controlled breathing, enhancing performance in sports and physical activities.
​

Conditions That May Benefit from Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Improved Breathing


​Upper cervical chiropractic care may help individuals dealing with:
​
  • Asthma and airway restriction
  • Sleep apnea and breathing irregularities
  • Chronic sinus congestion
  • Anxiety-related breathing dysfunctions
  • Neck tension affecting breathing mechanics

By aligning the upper cervical spine, chiropractic adjustments support optimal nervous system and respiratory function.
​

Scientific Support for Chiropractic and Breathing Improvement


​Research suggests a strong link between spinal alignment and respiratory function:

  • A study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that chiropractic adjustments improved lung function and breathing efficiency in patients with restricted respiratory capacity.
  • Research in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported significant improvements in breathing patterns and oxygenation after spinal adjustments.
  • A case study in Clinical Chiropractic highlighted that patients with posture-related breathing difficulties experienced symptom relief following upper cervical chiropractic care.

These findings reinforce the
important role of spinal health in breathing function.
​

Additional Tips to Support Better Breathing Alongside Chiropractic Care


To further
enhance breathing patterns, consider incorporating these habits:
​
  1. Practice Diaphragmatic Breathing: Train your body to engage deep belly breathing instead of shallow chest breathing.
  2. Improve Posture: Sit and stand with proper spinal alignment to avoid restricting lung capacity.
  3. Stay Hydrated: Water helps keep airways moist and clear, reducing respiratory strain.
  4. Reduce Stress: Meditation, yoga, and mindfulness encourage relaxed breathing rhythms.
  5. Avoid Mouth Breathing: Breathing through the nose improves oxygen absorption and lung efficiency.

When combined with upper cervical chiropractic care, these practices can optimize respiratory function and overall wellness.
​

Community Impact


Healthy Living Spinal Care serves residents of
Hickory, Lenoir, Conover, Lincolnton, and Statesville, NC, offering expert upper cervical chiropractic care to enhance breathing patterns and overall health. Dr. Joey Miles helps patients discover natural ways to improve respiratory efficiency and nervous system function through precise spinal adjustments.
​

A Natural Approach to Better Breathing


Proper breathing is essential for energy, focus, endurance, and overall vitality. When spinal misalignments interfere with nervous system communication, breathing patterns can become restricted, shallow, or inefficient.

Upper cervical chiropractic care provides a natural, holistic solution by restoring spinal alignment, enhancing diaphragm function, and improving lung capacity.
​

If you're looking for a non-invasive way to improve your breathing, upper cervical chiropractic adjustments may be the key to better oxygenation, stress reduction, and respiratory health.
​

Medical Disclaimer


This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before beginning any new treatment or therapy, especially if you have existing health conditions or concerns. Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care or treatment for serious conditions.
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How To Manage A Pinched Nerve With A Chiropractor for Migraines In Hickory

Neck pain in Hickory, or soreness in other parts of your body, can come from a variety of different sources. These range from arthritis to tendonitis to torn cartilages in your joints. This also doesn’t include the variety of other conditions that have back pain in Hickory as a common symptom. One common such example is getting a pinched nerve in the upper part of the spine, also known as cervical radiculopathy. This generally occurs when bone spurs start to appear around the discs in the spine. When everything is working well, the discs should absorb the shocks between each individual vertebra. A bone spur is a small bit of bone that is formed as we age and discs get weaker. When things go properly, bone spurs support the vertebrae as they get weaker, However, in some cases, those spurs press on nerve roots, leading to other symptoms.
 
Symptoms of Pinched Nerves
How do you tell that the soreness you are dealing with stems from a pinched nerve? No matter what area it’s in, you’re going to need to have an in-depth exam of the affected area to be absolutely certain. As an example, a pinched nerve is generally localized in one area. Another thing to note is that these are normally very sharp soreness. By comparison, if you simply overexerted a muscle, the sensation would likely be a duller strain. In some cases, a pinch may never have any other symptoms. Some people feel a sensation of pins and needles in a certain area. Others may feel numbness or weakness when trying to lift something.
 
Depending on where you feel your symptoms and the exact nature of them, your medical professional may be able to determine if it is a pinched nerve or not quite quickly. Generally, though, an exam will still be administered. These start by testing sensitivity, strength, and reflexes. You may be told to do different stretches and movements to determine what leads to symptoms and what relieves them. You’ll also likely need to provide details about your pain. For example, be sure to have a record of when the pain started, and any activities that you do that cause soreness to flare up. If it is soothed by certain activities, be sure to mention those as well. Your doctor might also ask if you have had other health changes or recently increased your physical activities. If the spinal nerves are impacted, they can manifest in surprising ways, like bladder and bowel issues.
 
Say that your standard exam isn’t enough to get to the root of these issues. Your doctor may instead decide to do imaging tests to figure out what’s causing the pinched nerve and where it is. This is mostly administered through X-rays or MRI scans. An X-ray can showcase details going on with your bones, but won’t show your discs and nerves. With this said, they can be useful for determining if you have narrow vertebrae or bone spurs. An MRI is able to do more, showing how healthy your nerves and discs are in detail. In some cases, an X-ray may be done to a certain area to check for bone injury. Lastly, if the issue is due to injured ligaments or tendons, an ultrasound may be needed.
 
Working With Your Fibromyalgia Chiropractor In Hickory
So, if you suspect that a pinched nerve is behind your soreness, or know it for a fact, what can you do? One asset that you have is doing a posture adjustment. To start, try and find a position that helps you feel comfortable with your soreness. After this, you can adapt your lifestyle and living spaces to help you stay in that posture as much as possible. For a lot of people, doing this in the workplace is a major source of problems. One way to get around this is by using a standing workplace. These help prevent pinched nerves, treat existing ones, and just lower overall soreness. You can either ask the HR department to modify your existing space or buy your own.
 
Another thing to note is that whenever you are dealing with a pinched nerve, you want to make sure that you are as rested as possible, along with lowering any activity that leads to soreness. Try and keep the cycle of rest going until your symptoms subside. After this, you can begin to start testing things together. For certain types of issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be able to use a splint to protect your wrist.
 
You have a lot of options that you can do at home to help lower soreness from pinched nerves. For example, a gentle stretch can help provide relief, but you don’t want to overextend yourself. Focus on smaller movements, and if you find yourself getting sore again, try and do something less intensive. Think about applying heat to your muscles in the affected area to help them loosen. Heat also supports healing by promoting blood flow. Generally, you want to apply it for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can also do ice instead if you prefer. Simply get some ice, wrap it in a washcloth, and apply it to the area for 10-15 minutes as well.
 
If you want additional help, consider looking into NSAIDs. These can help quite a bit with mild soreness and can be brought over the counter. With that said, just make sure that you read and stick to the recommended dosage. These aren’t going to be able to provide total coverage as well. If you find that you’re dealing with consistent, extreme, or repeated soreness, reach out to a medical professional. On top of performing the exams before, they may be able to provide a prescription for more powerful medication. They may also recommend a specialist like a chiropractor in Hickory. This will help you get the treatment you need.

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