Upper Cervical Chiropractic in Denver
Gentle, measured care for the pattern your body has locked into.
In-person care in Wheat Ridge, CO, serving the Denver metro
The short version
Upper cervical chiropractic works on the whole pattern your body is holding, not just the spot that hurts. When your brain is protecting you, your body twists and compresses, and the way your head sits on your neck sets that pattern for everything underneath it. We measure the pattern every visit, and there is no twisting, popping or cracking with each gentle correction.
Why the head and neck?
Your head is where your eyes and your balance system live. The way it sits on your neck tells your brain where you are, and the rest of your body organizes itself underneath it.
When your brain senses you’re off balance, it protects your neck first and tightens everything around it. Over time, your whole body follows that lead. One shoulder rides higher. A hip turns. You lean more on one leg without noticing.
Instead of chasing each of those spots, upper cervical care works where the pattern is set. Change how your head and neck are organized, and the rest of your body has room to follow.
Twisted and compressed: why stretching often doesn’t help
When your body holds an uneven pattern, some tissue gets held at full stretch while the tissue on the other side gets squashed. One side is under tension. The other is under compression.
Those two don’t respond to the same thing. Stretching a muscle that’s already stretched tight can feel good for a minute, but it doesn’t change why it’s tight. That’s why stretching often helps for a day and then the pain is back.
Upper cervical care gently decompresses the whole body, so both sides have a chance to settle.
We measure before every correction
Each visit starts with your numbers:
- How evenly you stand on each foot
- How much your body tilts to one side
- How far your hips and shoulders have rotated
- How much your head and neck tilt
Those measurements calculate your correction for that visit, so your care changes as you change. Then we measure again, so you can see how your body responded instead of taking our word for it.
Why posture? A brain getting good information always chooses the most upright, efficient way to stand. When yours doesn’t, the way you’re standing tells us how far off that information is.
What a correction feels like
Corrections are gentle and precise. There’s no twisting, popping, or cracking of the neck. Most patients describe a gentle pressure applied to their neck while they notice small clicks as the muscles, fascia and connective tissue release.
A typical visit takes approximately 15 minutes, including measurements before and after your correction. Many people with complex histories, prior surgery, or a real fear of having their neck adjusted find this approach easy to relax into.
Why it pairs with vestibular therapy
Correcting the pattern your body is locked in matters. But if your eyes or balance system are still sending your brain bad information, your brain can pull you right back to what it believes is upright.
That’s why we test your eyes and balance system before we start. Your results tell us whether to begin with upper cervical care, vestibular therapy, or both. Together they make up the Omega Method.
What it can help with
- Neck pain that keeps coming back, including after an accident or surgery
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Dizziness and feeling off balance
- Numbness and tingling in the arms or hands
- Neck strain after a concussion
- Pain on one side of the body that keeps moving from joint to joint
What to expect
1
Complimentary consultation
A conversation about what you’ve been dealing with and what you’ve already tried. By the end, we’ll tell you honestly whether we think we can help.
2
Comprehensive assessment
We measure your eye movement, your balance, and how you’re actually standing.
3
Your results and a plan
We walk you through your results and what they mean, then build a plan around what we found.
4
Care and progress checks
Measured corrections, with progress checks along the way and a side-by-side comparison at the end of your plan.
What people say
“I am so thankful I found this office and Dr. Sam! I have been dealing with neck, shoulder, and back issues for more years than I care to remember! After seeing Dr. Sam 1 time I knew I had finally found someone who could help me. I am beyond grateful to him for working with me and truly understanding my concerns/pains. I am close to turning 62 and feel better than I have in years!! I have recommended him to family and friends and love hearing their success stories also! You absolutely can not go wrong by booking an appointment with this office🙏💪”
Nancy N., Google review
“I’m very grateful I was referred to Omega Functional Health awhile back when I was looking for a new chiropractor. Both Dr. Sam and Dr. Lynn have been amazing and have helped me tremendously. My body pain has decreased overall and in a relatively short amount of time I am seeing overall improvement. I am always impressed by how many different tools they use for treatment and I find the techniques to be highly innovative and more individualized than I’ve ever seen at other chiropractic offices – and I’ve seen a lot of chiropractors over the years. I always leave feeling well cared for, listened to and encouraged about my body and overall well being.”
Sharon H., Google review
Individual results vary.
Common questions about upper cervical chiropractic
What is upper cervical chiropractic?
Upper cervical chiropractic focuses on the relationship between your head and neck, because that relationship organizes how the rest of your body holds itself up. We measure your posture each visit and make a gentle, precise correction based on those numbers.
How is this different from other chiropractic care?
We work on the whole pattern your body is holding rather than one sore spot, and every correction is calculated from that visit’s measurements. Then we re-measure to see how your body responded.
Why do you measure me every visit?
Because your body changes as care progresses. Measuring each visit means your correction keeps up with you, and you can see your progress in numbers, not just in how you feel on a given day.
Can upper cervical chiropractic help with dizziness?
It can be an important part of it. When your body is twisted and compressed, your brain gets less reliable information about where you are, and dizziness can follow. That’s why we often pair upper cervical care with vestibular therapy.
I’ve had neck surgery. Can I still have upper cervical care?
Many of our patients have had neck surgery, injections, or a fusion. Because corrections are gentle and calculated from your measurements, your care is planned around your history.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on what your measurements show. We re-measure early in care, so within the first few weeks you’ll know whether things are changing.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can schedule a complimentary consultation directly.
Do you take insurance?
We are out of network with all carriers but can provide you with a superbill to submit for reimbursement.
Related pages
Wondering what pattern your body is holding? Let’s find out why.