Lower back pain is extraordinarily prevalent, with about 80 percent of adults experiencing it at some point in their lives. An episode of low back pain can have many sources, and there are certain factors that might increase your risk of developing it:
When you think about low back pain, the last thing you probably consider is your upper spine, but a misalignment of the topmost vertebra in your neck might be the source of your problem.
When we look at the spine and back-related pain, it's important to understand that the spine works together as a unit. One of the major functions of the spinal column is to provide a protective shell around the delicate tissues of the brainstem and spinal cord. The brainstem and spinal cord are constantly relaying signals to and from your brain to every single part of your body. The atlas vertebra, which sits at the very top of the neck, is the most freely movable, which also makes it very likely to suffer a misalignment. When this happens, it can disturb the normal passage of signals traveling over the nerves. This can lead to postural imbalances, muscle spasms, and pain.
One of the most common ways we see an atlas misalignment causing lower back pain is through these muscle and posture imbalances. Muscle tension can abnormally increase on one side of the body, causing one hip to be higher than the other. This can cause one leg to appear shorter than the other, and over time, this can easily cause pain and discomfort in the low back. By correcting the alignment of the atlas, normal brain-body signals can be restored so that these muscle spasms and imbalances can resolve naturally. This can lead to the reduction of postural imbalances and eliminate the underlying cause of your lower back pain.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.