Dr. D.D. Palmer first discovered the healing power of chiropractic in the late 1800's. In the early 1930's his son, Dr. B.J. Palmer, observed that when the part of the spine where the head and neck join, (the Upper Cervical Spine) was very precisely corrected, it had a dynamic affect on the whole spine and overall health of the entire body. That discovery led to the development of the first Upper Cervical procedures done by hand. Dr. B.J. Palmer continued to conduct intensive research on this very precise form of adjusting the C1 or Atlas and the C2, the Axis, the two top vertebrae of the spine. These difficult procedures developed by Dr. Palmer were called HIO or Hole-In-One, Toggle-Recoil, and Knee-chest. (Note: The knee-chest is not an adjustment of the knee or chest. It is simply the position the patient assumes when their Upper Cervical Spine is being corrected.) Other forms of hand adjusting have been developed by other Upper Cervical doctors using different approaches to correcting the misalignment of C1 and C2. A few of these are Grostic, Orthospinology, Blair, and NUCCA. Although all the procedures differ in technique and philosophy, each one has a singular goal, and that is to correct the Upper Cervical Spine.

By the mid 20th century, UC chiropractors began inventing instruments to correct the Upper Cervical spine. They include: The Life Upper Cervical Instrument by Cecil Laney, D.C., The Atlas Orthogonal Instrument by Roy Sweat, D.C. and the S.O.N.A.R. Instrument by Tom Elliott, to name a few.

The Life Upper Cervical Instrument invented by Dr. Cecil Laney, is a mechanical simulation of the Grostic hand adjustment. A small oblong contact point moves forward very slightly through this complex instrument providing the necessary torque for correction. Very little movement is felt by the patient.

The Atlas Orthogonal invented by Dr. Roy Sweat delivers a mechanical impulse through a metal stylus by means of a pressure-controlled actuator. The impulse is transmitted through the stylus and exits as an instantaneous compression wave. The stylus is stationary and does not move during the adjustment. It feels like a light tap to the patient.

The SONAR Instrument, invented by Dr. Tom Elliott, uses pulses of sound waves that range along specific frequencies to move bone by sound. This is a very simplified explanation of the extremely complicated physics by which the instrument functions. It feels like a series of slight vibrations at the contact point. The number of vibrations or pulses needed will vary with each patient. No force is felt, only vibration.

There may be other forms of Upper Cervical hand and instrument adjusting that we are not aware of at this time. The UC chiropractic field is on the verge of major innovations and discoveries. As a consumer awareness organization, we welcome information on all the procedures and instruments that are available to bring healing and wellness to people today.

If you have been under either hand or instrument adjusting and are considering trying another type of Upper Cervical procedure, we encourage you to discuss with the doctor the differences between what he/she does and what you have experienced or heard. As an organization we have found that some patients respond better to one Upper Cervical procedure than another. It may take time for you to find the one the works the best for your body. However, we encourage you to keep looking. The healing that happens when the atlas and/or axis are precisely corrected is absolutely phenomenal. The future of your health depends upon it.