Atlas Subluxation Complex, National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association Intervention, and Dizziness Improvement: A Narrative Review of Historical Perspectives, Literature Synthesis, and a Path for Future Care

TL;DR

This review explores how atlas subluxation complex and NUCCA chiropractic care might help treat dizziness, but more research is needed.

Contribution

The paper proposes a novel hypothesis linking atlas subluxation complex to dizziness and suggests NUCCA chiropractic care as a potential treatment.

Findings

Conceptual evidence and case reports suggest a link between atlas subluxation complex and dizziness.

NUCCA chiropractic care may improve dizziness outcomes, but high-quality studies are lacking.

The paper calls for further research through observational studies and randomized controlled trials.

Abstract

Dizziness is a non-specific and common condition in which the afflicted individual experiences abnormal sensations such as lightheadedness, imbalance, or a false sense of spinning (vertigo). The experience of "dizziness" can result from a wide spectrum of abnormal physiological states, including exhaustion, hypotension, and hypoglycemia, but could also indicate a serious underlying health issue. Since it has many potential generating causes, accurate identification of the underlying etiology of dizziness can present a challenge to clinicians, often resulting in ineffective treatments. We present a hypothesis that atlas subluxation complex (ASC) may comprise an etiological agent of dizziness that can be successfully addressed with National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) chiropractic care. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology of the ASC, introduce the NUCCA chiropractic procedure, and complete a literature review and synthesis. Conceptual evidence, case reports, and theory provide foundational evidence that the ASC may be a contributory factor of dizziness generation and that NUCCA chiropractic corrective care of the ASC may produce favorable dizziness outcomes. However, high-quality studies are lacking. The foundation evidence provides indication that further research via observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is warranted.

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