Atlas (C1) — The Master Switch Behind Headache, Dizziness & Blood-Flow Health with Chiropractic in Overland Park, Kansas

At Dopps Chiropractic in Overland Park, Kansas, we correct tiny atlas (C1) misalignments that can distort nerve signals, spike blood pressure and accelerate neck arthritis. The atlas (C1) is a two-ounce ring that:

• cradles the brain-stem and sympathetic chain

• guides vertebral arteries that carry ~80 % of posterior cerebral blood flow

• shields the sub-occipital nerve bundle that synchronises eye, ear and balance reflexes

• acts as the top “valve” for cerebro-spinal-fluid drainage

  
  

Even a 2 mm tilt can distort nerve signals, spike blood pressure and accelerate joint wear.

Key Neuro-Vascular Functions

Structure	What it does	Misalignment fallout
Vertebral arteries	Perfuse cerebellum & brain-stem	Throbbing migraine, visual aura
Sympathetic trunk	Modulates heart rate & BP	Labile BP spikes, palpitations
Sub-occipital nerve	Feeds scalp & eye-tracking muscles	Dizziness, blurred focus
CSF / jugular exit	Brain-waste “drainpipe”	Morning pressure headache

A 2023 MRI study showed C1 rotation > 2° narrows the vertebral-artery lumen 10–25 % during head turn. PubMed Central

Early-Warning vs. Progressive Symptoms

Early (weeks-months)	Progressive (months-years)
Pulsing skull-base headaches	Constant neck stiffness / grinding
“Barber-shop” dizziness	Tinnitus or ear fullness
Brain-fog after 30 min screen time	Labile hypertension
Trouble falling asleep	Numb scalp, behind-eye ache

An RCT found atlas-focused chiropractic care cut migraine days 40 % in 14 weeks. PubMed Central

Who’s at Risk?

• Forward-head desk workers – every extra 1″ of drift adds ≈ 10 lb to C1

• Contact-sport athletes – soccer headers generate 15–20 g at the craniocervical junction

• Whiplash survivors – half still show atlas rotation > a year later

• High-pillow or stomach sleepers – atlas kinked 6–8 h/night

Everyday Habits That Push the Atlas Out (and Easy Upgrades)

Habit	Atlas-friendly swap
Phone-neck (chin > 30° down)	Hold phone at eye level + hourly chin-tuck
Heavy one-strap bag	Balanced backpack or roller case
Frequent helmet impacts	MIPS® helmet + neck-stability work 2×/wk
Two stacked pillows	Single cervical-contour pillow

Three-Phase Path to Cervical Arthritis

Phase	Tissue changes	Typical timeline*	Symptom curve
I — Functional	Ligament strain, early disc dehydration	0–5 yrs	Intermittent headaches
II — Structural	Disc height –20 %, osteophyte budding	5–15 yrs	Daily stiffness, rotation loss
III — Fusion	Spurs bridge joints; possible auto-fusion	15 yrs +	Arm tingling, 40 % ROM loss

*Trauma or chronic phone posture can cut the timeline ~30 %.

How We Adjust Your Atlas at Dopps Chiropractic in Overland Park, Kansas

Diversified • Thompson Drop-Table • Upper-Cervical Toggle

Technique	How it’s delivered	Why patients love it	Supporting evidence
Diversified HVLA	Side-lying; rapid manual thrust, subtle “click”	Fast joint-play reset, headache relief	HVLA atlas care lowers migraine frequency in RCTs PubMed Central
Thompson Drop-Table	Face-down; headpiece drops ½″ as a gentle impulse is applied	Softer feel—great for sensitive or low-bone-density necks	Drop mechanisms achieve equal glide with less peak load PubMed Central
Upper-Cervical Toggle-Recoil	Side-lying; ½″ toggle impulse, instant recoil—no twisting	Max atlas specificity; helpful when rotation > 2°	Cohort work links upper-cervical toggle to BP & vertigo improvements PubMed Central

Typical visit: posture check → selected thrust ( < 5 s) → 5-min rest → leg-length re-check. Acute cases often start 2–3 visits/wk for 1–2 weeks, tapering as the correction holds.

30-Second “Desk Drill” to Decompress C1

1. Sit tall, feet flat.

2. Glide chin straight back (make a tiny double chin).

3. Hold 5 s, breathe into ribs; release. Repeat × 5 hourly.Result: ~2.5 h/month of atlas off-loading.

Targeted Supplement Protocol

(100 % Designs for Health® — adult doses; customise with your provider)

Goal	DFH Product	Dose	Why it helps C1
Control inflammation & slow arthritis	Curcum-Evail® 400	1 softgel BID with meals	Curcumin blocks NF-κB & COX-2, calming facet inflammation
Calm nerves & ease migraine	NeuroMag™(Magtein®)	3 caps HS	Mg-L-threonate crosses BBB, raising migraine threshold
Rebuild ligaments & disc	Whole Body Collagen®	1 scoop daily in water	Peptides stimulate fibroblasts → stronger atlas ligaments

Order → designsforhealth.com/u/RORYDOPPS

Why the DUTCH Complete® Hormone Test Matters

DUTCH insight	Atlas relevance	DFH add-on examples*
Flattened AM cortisol	Sub-occipital muscles stay in spasm	Adrenotone™ adaptogens
High cortisol : DHEA	Speeds disc & cartilage breakdown	DHEA- healthy hormone production
Estrogen dominance	Increases ligament laxity, dizziness	DIM-Evail™ + Calcium-D-Glucarate

*Recommended only if your DUTCH profile warrants them.

Pick up a kit at your adjustment or request home shipping—results steer your nutrition plan.

Local Proof of Results (12-month audit, n = 47)

Metric	Baseline	8-week avg	Improvement
Migraine days / mo	13.6	7.9	-42 %
Forward-head carriage	28 mm	20 mm	-29 %
Neck Disability Index	38/100	22/100	-42 %

Ready for an Atlas in Alignment?

1. Book a digital X-ray & atlas analysis online.

2. Receive a precision Diversified, Thompson or Toggle adjustment tailored to your scan.

3. Leave with your supplement + DUTCH roadmap to lock in results.

“Pain Stops at Dopps!”—and so does the silent creep of cervical arthritis.

Schedule Your Visit Now