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Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Its Impact on Balance and Coordination Issues

5/19/2025

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Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Its Impact on Balance and Coordination Issues
Balance and coordination are two foundational abilities that most people take for granted—until they’re gone. Whether it’s a subtle unsteadiness when walking, difficulty maintaining posture, or more serious bouts of dizziness and disorientation, disruptions to balance and coordination can dramatically impact daily life. For many, these challenges don’t start in the feet or legs—they start at the top of the spine.

Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on the alignment of the top two vertebrae in the neck—the atlas (C1) and axis (C2)—which are closely linked to the body’s ability to stay balanced, centered, and coordinated.

Dr. Joey Miles at Healthy Living Spinal Care in Hickory, NC, explains how correcting misalignments in the upper cervical spine can restore neurological clarity, reduce fall risk, and help patients of all ages feel more confident on their feet.
​

What Controls Balance and Coordination?


The ability to maintain balance and coordination is controlled by the vestibular system, which includes the inner ear, eyes, muscles and joints, and nervous system. These systems work together to help your body stay upright and move with control. At the center of it all is the brainstem, located just above the spinal cord.

Signals from your body travel to the brainstem and cerebellum (the brain’s coordination center) to determine how your body should respond—whether you’re walking, standing, turning your head, or reaching for something overhead.

When this communication is disrupted—especially due to misalignments in the upper cervical spine—it can result in:
​
  • Unsteadiness or frequent tripping
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Delayed reflexes
  • Difficulty walking in a straight line
  • Inability to coordinate fine motor movements
  • Fear of falling
​

The Role of the Upper Cervical Spine


The
atlas and axis are the top two bones of the spine. They are responsible for supporting the head, protecting the brainstem, and allowing for head movement. They are also uniquely shaped and more susceptible to misalignment than any other vertebrae.

When the atlas or axis is even slightly out of alignment, it can:
​
  • Place tension on the brainstem
  • Interfere with the vestibular system's signals to the brain
  • Create muscular imbalances throughout the spine
  • Lead to postural instability and compensation
  • Disrupt blood flow to the inner ear and cerebellum

These issues don’t always result in pain, which is why they are often overlooked—but they can significantly affect balance, proprioception, and coordination.

How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Helps


Upper cervical chiropractic focuses on
realigning the atlas and axis to remove neurological interference and restore normal function to the brain-body communication pathways.
​

Here’s how it supports balance and coordination:

1. Reducing Brainstem Pressure

Reducing Brainstem Pressure

The
brainstem controls involuntary balance reflexes. When pressure is placed on this area due to spinal misalignment, it can distort sensory input from the body and lead to imbalance. Chiropractic adjustments remove this pressure, restoring clear and accurate signaling.
​

2. Rebalancing the Musculoskeletal System


Even minor upper cervical misalignments can cause the head to tilt. This tilt triggers a chain reaction throughout the body, causing:

  • Uneven shoulders or hips
  • Muscle tension on one side of the body
  • Gait abnormalities

Correcting the misalignment brings the head back to center and allows the
muscles and joints to reset and function evenly.
​

3. Improving Proprioception (Body Awareness)


Proprioception is your body’s sense of its position in space. This critical function is regulated by the
nervous system and is essential for smooth, coordinated movement. When misalignments interfere with nerve signals, your body may struggle to “know” where it is or how it’s moving.

Upper cervical adjustments restore proper neurological input, improving body awareness and coordination.
​

4. Supporting Vestibular Health


The inner ear and cervical spine are intimately connected. Misalignments in the upper neck can impair blood flow and neural input to the vestibular system, worsening dizziness and balance issues.
By improving alignment and circulation, upper cervical care may:
​
  • Reduce vertigo episodes
  • Improve balance while standing or walking
  • Diminish feelings of disorientation or spatial confusion
​

Who Can Benefit?


Upper cervical chiropractic care may benefit individuals experiencing:
​
  • Age-related balance decline
  • Vertigo or Meniere’s disease
  • Post-concussion symptoms
  • Cervicogenic dizziness (neck-related imbalance)
  • Multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s-related coordination problems
  • Stroke recovery
  • Unexplained balance loss or frequent falls
​

​Safe and Gentle Care for All Ages


Upper cervical chiropractic is known for its precision and gentleness—making it an excellent option for seniors, children, athletes, and anyone seeking a non-invasive approach to nervous system health.

Dr. Joey Miles uses state-of-the-art imaging and analysis to create personalized care plans that address the root of imbalance without forceful twisting or cracking.
​

Complementary Habits for Improved Balance


In addition to upper cervical chiropractic care, you can support better balance and coordination by:
​
  • Practicing balance exercises like single-leg stands or Tai Chi
  • Staying hydrated to support inner ear function
  • Wearing supportive footwear
  • Minimizing screen time to reduce sensory overload
  • ​Getting regular sleep to support neurological processing
​

Caring for the Carolinas

​
At Healthy Living Spinal Care, Dr. Joey Miles serves patients from Hickory, Lenoir, Conover, Lincolnton, and Statesville, NC, helping individuals improve their balance, coordination, and quality of life through upper cervical chiropractic care. Whether you're recovering from an injury or navigating the aging process, Dr. Miles offers natural, long-term solutions tailored to your needs.
​

Reclaim Your Balance from the Top Down


Struggling with balance doesn’t mean you’re losing control—it may simply be a sign that your nervous system is out of alignment. By restoring balance at the top of the spine,
upper cervical chiropractic care empowers the body to function as it was designed.

If you’re feeling unsteady on your feet, dealing with dizziness, or worried about falling, it’s time to explore a natural, effective solution that starts with your upper cervical spine.
​

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. 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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