Can an Osteopath or Chiropractor Correct the Atlas?

The Theory of Chiropractors and Osteopaths

According to the theories of chiropractors and osteopaths, a joint blockage is always the result of the incorrect position of a vertebra. This leads to the theory that, once the joint blockage is resolved, the incorrect position of the vertebra is automatically corrected.

However, this theory does not apply to the Atlas joint, which, due to its unique anatomical characteristics, behaves mechanically more like a part of the skull rather than a vertebra. This aspect is entirely overlooked, and the Atlas is treated as if it were like any other vertebra.

The Illusion of Cervical Manipulations

To those who doubt our claims, we suggest performing a CT scan before and after a cervical manipulation to personally verify the results.

Try asking your trusted therapist how many CT scans they have compared in their career, before and after their cervical manipulation. The answer will usually be: NONE! Despite this, many therapists continue to confidently and even somewhat presumptuously claim that their manipulations can correct vertebrae, even though they have never unequivocally verified whether this actually happens.

They rely on tradition and the teachings of their masters, who in turn come from eras when today's equipment, essential for objectively validating their theories, did not yet exist. It's like the proverbial blind leading the blind, if the saying helps to illustrate the point.

From our perspective, attempting to correct the Atlas through chiropractic manipulation is equivalent to trying to drive a nail into concrete with a single slap of the palm.

By applying the Atlantomed technique of Atlas correction through vibro-resonance, 2 sessions are generally sufficient to durably return the Atlas to its neutral position. This result can also be demonstrated using CT images taken before and after the treatment.

For the sake of clarity, we specify that the content of this site should not be interpreted as a promise or guarantee of healing. Even after the Atlantomed treatment, relapses or isolated cases without significant changes may occur. The information presented here is based on the analysis of results obtained in the majority of treated subjects.

How Does the Impulse of a Chiropractic Manipulation Propagate?

When a manipulation applies a twist to the spine to restore its mobility, the force propagates from one vertebral segment to the next, often accompanied by the typical cracking sound, so appreciated by chiropractors that it almost becomes a competition to see who cracks the loudest, as if this were automatically synonymous with benefits.

In practice, when the maximum possible excursion between two vertebrae is reached, and even slightly beyond, the force of the impulse transfers to the next segment, continuing to propagate along the spine until it dissipates at the opposite end, where the spine is held stationary.

The Challenge of the Axis

However, when attempting to apply the same principle to the upper cervical spine, a significant problem arises: the second cervical vertebra, C2, which articulates with the Atlas, has a physiological range of motion of about 25 degrees per side, much greater than the few degrees allowed by other vertebrae. Consequently, the applied twisting force disperses on this ring, never reaching the joint between the Atlas and the occiput, which is the misalignment intended to be corrected.

This limitation is ignored, mistakenly assuming that some correction of the Atlas has hypothetically occurred, despite the lack of objective verification. As supposed evidence of the correction, the cracking sound is cited, which, in reality, originates from the lower cervical vertebrae, given that the Atlas has practically no rotational capacity relative to the occiput.

Some chiropractic texts erroneously attribute a physiological rotation of 5 degrees to the Atlas, a claim that, in practice, is highly questionable. A rotation of this magnitude would cause continuous vagal and circulatory disturbances, similar to those observed in people with such severe misalignments or hyperlax ligaments, making it unlikely to be considered a physiological rotation. Furthermore, the cracking cannot originate from the Axis either, as the specific structure of this vertebra, which allows for a wide 25-degree movement, excludes the possibility of generating such noise. This happens because the Axis does not have upper articular facets that could separate, as hypothesized to be the cause of the cracking; rather, this phenomenon might occur at the C2-C3 joint. The only sound that might occasionally be generated in this segment during rotation is similar to sand in gears, caused by the rubbing of the joint capsule against a misaligned C2.

Another argument used to justify the supposed correction is the increased ability of the patient to turn their head, which, however, depends exclusively on the relaxation of the cervical musculature. Although greater freedom of movement may relieve symptoms and improve well-being, this does not constitute proof of an actual correction of the Atlas. A spiral CT scan could dispel all doubts, but chiropractors, for various reasons, avoid performing it, even for educational purposes or out of simple curiosity. They prefer to continue blindly believing what their teachers taught them, namely that a specific neck twist can correct the Atlas, without ever having verified even once the effectiveness of the alignment. When the pain inevitably reappears, it is attributed to a new misalignment or other alleged primary issues that would prevent the Atlas from maintaining its correct position.

However, those who support this theory should explain why such relapses show a low percentage after correction performed with the Atlantomed method. In our case, relapses only occur in a limited number of situations, such as in the presence of significant concurrent mandibular problems; if these issues are minor, they often resolve spontaneously after Atlas correction. Although there are other marginal factors that may influence the outcome, our experience demonstrates that, in most cases, Atlas dysfunction is primary and not dependent on the array of factors often cited to justify failures, relegating the Atlas to the role of an afterthought rather than recognizing it as the driving force. Our results, verifiable and concrete, are tangible proof of this.

In light of these facts, do you still think the two types of treatments are equivalent, as many therapists try to make you believe?

Chiropractor/Osteopath Reviews vs. Atlantomed

Take a look at the reviews of any chiropractor or osteopath: what do you notice? They mostly report short-term results, often described the same day or shortly after the treatment. Our reviews, on the other hand, are generally written months, and sometimes even years, after a single correction.

Many people treated with Atlantomed report the disappearance of symptoms with just one treatment, whereas chiropractors generally speak of gradual improvements achieved through therapeutic processes lasting several months. Do you see the difference? It’s not about boasting superiority, but highlighting an objective and radiologically verifiable reality, for the benefit of people who are suffering.

The 6 Physical Laws Against the Theory of Cervical Manipulations

If we want to act according to science, we should start evaluating things considering the laws of physics. The principles of chiropractic continue to generate heated debates between supporters and critics of the discipline, also fueled by the risks associated with cervical maneuvers, which sometimes cause damage.

In our opinion, CERVICAL manipulations are like perpetual motion: they are based on a principle that disregards the laws of physics and are therefore destined to fail. Note: we are specifically referring to manipulations of the upper cervical spine and not the rest of the spine, which is more robust and better able to tolerate the applied stresses. If their foundations are already wrong, how can they be expected to work?

Some chiropractic theories conflict with fundamental laws and principles of physics and biomechanics, especially considering claims that they can correct the position of a vertebra like the Atlas displaced on multiple axes with a single impulse. Here are some laws and principles that are "violated" or not adequately respected:

To avoid making the text too long and considering that physical laws may only interest a few and are not easily understandable to everyone, we have included them in a DOWNLOADABLE PDF HERE.

New Developments in Cervical Treatments

In addition to the use of hands, recently some therapists are attempting to address Atlas correction using various types of mechanical devices. Could it be that they are realizing that hands alone are not enough to work on the Atlas? On one hand, they criticize us; on the other, they copy our texts, terminology, and everything else.

However, it is not enough to have a device, perhaps copied from our AtlantoVib, and apply it randomly to the neck without proper knowledge and competence. Correcting the Atlas requires a much higher level of preparation and skill, resulting from specific training and extensive experience. A true correction requires extreme precision: variations in inclination of a few degrees or a deviation of a few millimeters from the correct intervention point can make the difference between "I have corrected the Atlas" and "I simply massaged the neck without correcting anything".

For the patient, this translates respectively into "the symptoms disappear if they were related to the Atlas" or "after some initial benefit, everything returns to how it was before". For intellectual honesty, we must clarify that even with Atlantomed, the second option can sometimes occur for various reasons; however, the fundamental difference lies in the reduced percentage of cases where this happens.