Tips For Holding Your Upper Cervical Alignment

One of the most amazing things about Upper Cervical Chiropractic is that holding is healing; the longer you hold your Upper Cervical adjustment, the more healing occurs. When the spine is stable, your adjustments can last for days, weeks, months, or even years. 

While holding an Upper Cervical correction may be easy for some patients, others can find it quite challenging. It’s important to remember that not every body is built the same. We all have different muscle tone and ligament strength. Each of us has experienced trauma or injury in different ways. Even our genetics affect how well our body responds to an adjustment. That being said, you can take a few actions to help you hold your Upper Cervical alignment better. 

Tips For Holding Your Upper Cervical Alignment

Hydrate

Our number one tip is always to drink plenty of water after an Upper Cervical adjustment. During your adjustment, your body shifts into proper alignment. This removes tension from the body, but it also releases toxins that have been gathered. Staying hydrated will help to flush these toxins more rapidly, but it also helps your spine. 

It’s common knowledge that the human body comprises about 70% water; a less well-known fact is that water is good for the spine. The spine is made up of vertebrae separated by discs. Regular water intake helps keep the discs hydrated, nourished, and functioning optimally. 

Take it Easy

Following an Upper Cervical adjustment, taking it easy where physical activities are concerned is important. Fatigue is a top factor in the stability of your spine. Until your ligaments have healed enough to hold your spine in its corrected position, the spine is held in place by the muscles surrounding it. It is important to note that your muscles were not originally designed for this function. The primary tissues for that job are your ligaments. Your muscles, unlike ligaments, can get fatigued. After your adjustment, avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise, and try not to apply undue stress to the neck or shoulder region for 24 hours after your appointment.

Get Proper Rest

You spend ⅓ of your life sleeping, and proper rest is essential for any type of healing, but along with adequate rest, you’ll want to focus on good sleep habits that support your spine. Don’t sleep with your head propped forward or fall asleep on the sofa. This position can strain your spine, muscles, and nervous system. Don’t sleep on your stomach. Opt for a side or back sleeping position. When sleeping on your side, keep your legs bent slightly. When sleeping on your back, don’t sleep with your arms above your head.  

Avoid Excess Stress

Another thing that can cause you to lose your alignment is stress. Whether physical or emotional, the tension from stress can tighten muscles in the neck and shoulders to pull you out of alignment. Furthermore, during high-stress events, your body secretes adrenaline and other stress chemicals into your body. One side effect of these chemicals is that they weaken your ligaments. As a result, your body cannot hold your alignments.

Maintain Consistency 

By far, the most crucial factor in stabilizing your spine is the consistency of your care. If your spine has been out of alignment or subluxated for years, your body isn’t going to heal instantly. Although your symptoms may improve rapidly, your tissues will still require time to heal. In order to stabilize, your spine must spend more time in alignment than out of alignment. Your Upper Cervical Chiropractor will work with you to determine a consistent care schedule to help you achieve optimal healing. 

Holding is Healing

Upper Cervical Chiropractic care aims to find and correct subluxations in the Upper Cervical Spine to improve brain-body communication and help your body heal itself naturally. 

Following these tips will help you hold your adjustments longer and help your body thrive sooner. We can’t wait to see you holding your alignment and give you a gold star for your visit! 

To schedule your next appointment or to get a free consultation at Atlas Specific, your Durango upper cervical chiropractor, give us a call at 970 – 259 – 6803, drop by our office at 1800 E 3rd Ave #108, or, better yet, click the link below at any time. You could be a gentle correction away from a happier, healthier you! 

Notice of Disclaimer

We are doctors of upper cervical chiropractic, but we are NOT necessarily YOUR doctors. All content and information on this website are for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice, and reading or interacting with this site does not establish any form of the patient-doctor relationship. Although we strive to provide accurate information, the information presented here is not intended to substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in your particular area of need before making medical decisions.