The Atlas is the top bone of the spine. It is the vertebrae that the head sits on. Orthogonal means at right angles, or square. The Atlas should be sitting level, or square, on the cervical spine (neck), and the head should be square on the Atlas. When the Atlas is in proper alignment, it literally means your head is on straight!

Misaligned spinal bones (vertebrae) cause compression, tension, irritation and damage to the central nervous system. This condition is referred to as "subluxation."

Subluxations can often be deceiving, causing many symptoms to appear far from the point of origin in the body. Simply treating these symptoms alone can be a fruitless effort. The longer the cause of the problem exists, the more difficult it is to correct at a later time. Your care must be based on the doctor's findings, not merely on the symptoms you may be experiencing.

With this in mind, it is very important to follow your Chiropractor's recommendations for treatment. After analyzing the results from a thorough examination, a gentle adjustment is made.

This is performed while the patient is comfortably positioned on a specially designed, adjustable table. With precise techniques, the Chiropractor will then gently realign the vertebrae of the spine.
(See AO Instrument)

The pictures above represent a normal Atlas and a subluxated Atlas. In the example on the right, the misalignment (subluxation) and is typical of those commonly seen by the Chiropractor. The weight of the head is shifted, no longer centered over the spine. The vertebrae are also shifted causing a serious structural misalignment. The resulting distortion and stress of the spine may put pressure on the delicate nerves which pass through it causing pain, organ dysfunction, loss of mobility and even the lowering of the body's natural resistance to illness.

Illustrated left is the proper alignment of the head on the vertebrae of the spinal column. The weight of the head is centered and balanced correctly over the supporting vertebrae. The spinal vertebrae are correctly positioned in relationship to each other and the path of the spinal nerves.

Atlas Orthogonal care is a gentle, highly effective way to correct subluxations, thereby providing numerous health benefits.

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