The Weight of the World

The first seven vertebrae of your spinal column make up what is known as your cervical spine. It begins at the top of your spine and ends where the middle 12 vertebrae of your spine, known as the thoracic spine, begin at your shoulders.

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The top two vertebrae of the cervical spine (known as C1 and C2) are unique from all the others because they are designed primarily for rotation. The first vertebra, know as the atlas (C1) is located between the skull and the axis (C2). The atlas was named for a mythical god who held the “weight of the world” on his shoulders. That's because the atlas actually supports the weight of the head. The atlas sits on top of the axis and is linked to it by special ligaments that allow rotation between them.

This is such a vital part of the spine, some chiropractors focus almost entirely on the atlas and axis. Proper alignment of these two vertebrae can affect the way your entire body functions and any type of misalignment can exert pressure on the brain stem, causing your entire body to malfunction. This sets up a compromise that can affect every organ, every system, and eventually every cell in your body, allowing a greater possibility for you to develop disease.

Chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical spine help correct misalignments and restore proper alignment of the atlas and axis so they function as they were designed, allowing the rest of your body to function as it should as well.

Dr. Troy Asks some important questions of interest to Boise residents - Chiropractor Boise Dr. Troy Asks...

How long does it take to form a bone spur?
Many who begin chiropractic care think their problem happened "last week when you bent over funny." But pictures of the spine tell a different story. Chiropractors know it can take your body years to deposit the calcium necessary to form a bone spur. It's your body's response to stress due to gravity or joint malfunction. And chiropractic care can help.
Are aches and pains good or bad?
While aches or pains may be unpleasant, they're merely warning signs. As a Boise chiropractor, I see this all the time. The pain is not the problem! It just means a limitation has been reached and something needs to change. That's when we get to work correcting the underlying cause.