What is the difference between the Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA Upper Cervical Techniques?

Blair and NUCCA Upper Cervical Techniques

Discover the difference between Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA upper cervical chiropractic for gentle, precise neck care. Clear Chiropractic is an upper cervical specialist practice in Spokane, Washington that is a natural choice in healthcare for correcting atlas misalignments without twisting, stretching or cracking.

Are you looking for a Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, or NUCCA upper cervical chiropractor?

If so, you’re not alone! Most people in the United States who search for an upper cervical chiropractor are the kinds of people who have been suffering from frustrating, complex health challenges for a long time.

You’ve probably been to all the usual suspects too: doctors, specialists, general chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, etc. You’ve had all kinds of blood tests, MRIs, and other scans.

Unfortunately, you’re always told the same thing: “We don’t know what’s wrong with you.”

You’ve probably also tried all kinds of different treatments and medications—some have helped, but most haven’t. And so, in your Google searches, you eventually came across something called a Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, or NUCCA upper cervical chiropractor.

You read about how the C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) vertebrae in your neck can affect your central nervous system and cause all kinds of health problems. And you realized that an atlas misalignment can cause many of the exact symptoms you experience!

And so here you are looking for an upper cervical chiropractor in Spokane … or simply the nearest upper cervical chiropractor to where you live. Or maybe there’s a certain brand of upper cervical chiropractic that you read about: Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, or NUCCA are the most common ones.

You know what you’re looking for. And you know that it’s different from general spinal manipulation—no twisting or neck cracking! But you don’t really know the difference after that. For example, you’re looking for a NUCCA chiropractor or an Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor, but the closest upper cervical doctor to you is a Blair chiropractor. What’s the difference?

If you’re looking for a solution to your complex health challenges and want to know the difference, read on. This article is for you

What Are Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA Chiropractors?

Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA are all methods or techniques within upper cervical-specific chiropractic care.

You are probably familiar with general chiropractic, osteopathy, or spinal manipulation: twisting, cracking, etc. In the 1930s, a new style of chiropractic was developed called “upper cervical-specific.”

Upper cervical-specific refers to the process of a precision alignment of the C1 and C2 vertebrae in your neck to take pressure off your brainstem, thereby helping with issues that affect your entire body.

 

For many political, prejudicial, and other reasons, this style of care was abandoned by the majority of chiropractors in the 1970s and 1980s—not because it wasn’t effective, but quite the opposite! Nevertheless, only 1.7% of all chiropractors in the United States practice an upper cervical-specific technique. In other countries, it’s even less, in large part because it was never taught at many chiropractic schools.

From the 1930s through today, different organizations have developed slightly different analyses and methods for adjusting the atlas, all with the common purpose of correcting the alignment of C1 and C2 in the most precise and effective manner possible.

There are about seven major techniques that unite under the upper cervical-specific banner:

  • Atlas Orthogonal (AO)
  • Blair Torque Recoil
  • Knee Chest Technique
  • NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association)
  • Orthospinology (aka Grostic Technique)
  • QSM3 (Quantum Spinal Mechanics)
  • Toggle Recoil (aka Palmer “Hole-in-One”)

Think of Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA as part of a close-knit family: they share many similarities and principles. They are far more alike than different.

 

If you are looking for best upper cervical chiropractors in Spokane to help with symptoms of an atlas misalignment, contact our office at 509-315-8166 to request an appointment.

How Are Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA Chiropractors Similar?

Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA chiropractors all use similar pre-adjustment tests to determine if you need an upper cervical adjustment. Unlike many full-spine techniques, upper cervical chiropractors only adjust when your top vertebra is misaligned.

All three methods use leg-length analysis to test for neuromuscular tension. For example, if you lie down and one leg appears “crooked,” it could indicate a misalignment in your C1. Additionally:

  • Blair: Uses paraspinal computerized thermography to measure nervous system activity.
  • NUCCA: Uses upright posture analysis to evaluate muscle tone.
  • Atlas Orthogonal: Uses static palpation to locate areas of tension in the upper neck.

In our practice, we combine all these tests for greater precision, ensuring adjustments are only made when absolutely necessary.

All three techniques also rely on X-rays to identify the precise direction and degree of misalignment. These are customized to your unique anatomy and go beyond standard imaging to offer unparalleled accuracy.

How Are Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA Chiropractors Different?

While Blair, Atlas Orthogonal, and NUCCA share core principles, their adjustment procedures differ:

  • NUCCA: Hand-delivered adjustments on a low table with minimal depth and no pushing or cracking.
  • Blair: High-speed, low-depth adjustments performed on a low table using a mechanical headpiece that vibrates to assist the adjustment.
  • Atlas Orthogonal: Percussive wave adjustments delivered with a stylus instrument on a standing table.

Additionally, while Atlas Orthogonal and NUCCA primarily target the C1 vertebra, Blair can address misalignments at all levels of the neck.

If you or a loved one is searching for an upper cervical chiropractor in Spokane—or anywhere—remember that all upper cervical techniques share the same goal: gentle, precise, and effective care for optimal results.

If you are looking for help with a chiropractor in Spokane, visit our home page more information. To schedule a new patient appointment with our Mead (north Spokane) or South Hill offices, complete a new patient request form here, or call us direct at 509-315-8166.