Seattle Upper Cervical Chiropractic Treatment
We understand the importance of addressing upper cervical problems with professional chiropractic care. Our approach focuses on precise, gentle adjustments to correct misalignments and restore proper function to the upper cervical spine, helping you find relief and prevent further complications.
Meet Our Seattle Upper Cervical Chiropractors
Dr. Ally Quintos
Dr. Rachel Whyte
Dr. Kelly Huynh
Dr. Kelly Perona
Dr. Ally Quintos
Dr. Ally is one of those rare extraverted Seattleites. She loves to help others move better and feel better while holding a compassionate, motivating space. As with other providers at Flourish, Dr. Ally believes that any progress in health, no matter how small, is a step forward and should be celebrated. Some days that will be earning a PR at the gym. Other days that will be simply showing up for your appointment. Your best will change from day to day, and it is enough.
Dr. Ally uses chiropractic adjusting, muscle scraping (gua sha), pin and stretch, and therapeutic exercises, while also addressing behavioral modifications, nutrition, and lifestyle factors all for optimal wellness. She is primarily a diversified manual adjuster, and also implements Thompson Drops and instrument-assisted adjustments. Some of her patients prefer instrument-only and that is welcomed by her.
She takes a movement and biomechanics based approach to chiropractic to promote function and wellbeing. As an avid runner, Dr. Ally loves helping people with hip, knee and shoulder injuries. She is amazed at how many people who hike or run have neck and shoulders tension! Aside from sports injuries or helping people continue doing what they love, she also has experience in pediatrics and prenatal, and really enjoys working with children, from 1 month to 17 years old. She loves supporting those who are expecting throughout their pregnancy, whether it be back pain, hip pain or overall wellness.
Dr. Ally returned to Seattle in 2020 to practice and joined Flourish in 2022. When Dr. Ally is outside of the office, she enjoys running, spending time with her family, and playing with her pup, Franklin.
In network Insurance:
Dr. Rachel Whyte
Dr. Rachel is a doc originally from Canada who has a passion for self-care and functional movement. Her love for dance and weight-lifting is what led her to study exercise science and physical fitness. From there she decided to pursue a career in Chiropractic medicine so she could help others reach their fitness goals, prevent and rehabilitate injuries, improve function, and get them back to doing what they love. She understands that wellness is a journey and not a destination and lifelong self-care is of the utmost importance. What feeds her love for this field the most is seeing her patients get excited about their health journey, watching them take back control of their lives, and feel confident in their bodies’ abilities, whatever that looks like for them.
It’s important to Dr. Rachel that when you’re in her care you feel safe, respected, and cared for. She knows that seeing a chiropractor for the first time can be intimidating and good communication and a safe space are some of the ways she helps mitigate this. Dr. Rachel meets the patient where they are that day and delivers individualized care with a focus on restoring function, decreasing symptomatology, and optimizing quality of life.
Dr. Rachel studied Chiropractic at the University of Western States where she graduated with degrees in Human Biology and Chiropractic Medicine. She spent her undergraduate studying Kinesiology at the University of Alberta with a focus on exercise science and physical fitness.
Dr. Rachel uses diversified adjusting techniques for joint dysfunction in both the spine and extremities. She also utilizes soft tissue manipulative therapy techniques such as the pin and stretch technique, fascial scraping, and cupping therapy. Dr. Rachel’s treatment room is equipped with a flexion-distraction table which helps decompress the lumbar spine and alleviate pain, especially for those with disc injuries and/or lumbar nerve root compression. She also prescribes rehabilitation exercises and lifestyle modifications so you can stay out of pain and take your health into your own hands at home. Aside from everyday aches and pains, some common sports injuries she treats include plantar fasciitis, muscle strains, ankle sprains, and whiplash injuries, amongst others.
In network Insurance:
Dr. Kelly Huynh
Dr. Kelly is a chiropractor with enthusiasm for holistic health and a commitment to helping others live their best lives. At the heart of her practice is a belief in the body’s innate ability to heal itself when given the proper support and alignment.
Her journey into chiropractic care was deeply influenced by personal experiences watching her loved ones struggle with health challenges. She sees how chiropractic has benefitted the lives of her family and friends mental and physical health and wants to share that with her community.
Dr. Kelly earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Parker University and is a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) to advance her knowledge in working with families and individuals of all ages. She primarily uses Diversified and Thompson techniques alongside trigger point and myofascial release therapies to promote proper healing. Dr. Kelly is also thrilled to offer Torque Release Technique (TRT) – a gentle and precise adjusting method that focuses on restoring balance to the nervous system by addressing the root cause of discomfort and dysfunction.
She commonly helps with headaches, TMJ, extremity injuries, and dysautonomia. Every day, Dr. Kelly sees how physical and emotional stressors can affect the body, and she strives to help as many people as possible become the best version of themselves through chiropractic.
In network Insurance:
Kai C
Karla U.
Asia Haley
Asia joins Flourish after working reception at a neighboring vet clinic. While she loves animals, she was drawn to Flourish’s calm, stress-free environment (who doesn’t love a massage?!) Whether it be sharing what you cooked for dinner or the places you’re traveling or walking to, she loves the opportunity to connect and interact with the compassionate, beautiful people here.
At Flourish, she hopes to learn more about insurance and the billing aspects of health insurance. It can be confusing for all of us! When she’s not at Flourish, she likes to play with her black cat, Poki, design stickers for her small business as well as journal, stroll in the city, eat at local restaurants, and play video games. She looks forward to adding to your experience at Flourish!
Dr. Kelly Perona
Dr. Kelly focuses on intentional healing and pain relief using hot stones, adjustments, focused massage, and stretches to encourage movement in the body, as well as preventive/self-care, posture and general wellbeing.
She is Webster-certified and has studied in the most painless, effective treatment methods available which involve traditional hands-on adjustments or instrument.
From Dr. Kelly: I love connecting with people and holding a supportive space for their needs. I started school to become a dentist with the intent to have a career in helping people. Three years into my schooling, I changed my profession to chiropractic after a car accident so I could focus on treating muscle and joint problems naturally. I love witnessing the exponential improvement chiropractic and massage can bring to whiplash or strains from MVAs, bike accidents, or other collisions. And doing so in a compassionate, validating space.
I have helped musicians, people who bind or brave MTF or FTM surgeries, runners, yoga enthusiasts, people in the restaurant industry, hairstylists, and those with the ever-elusive desk jobs. My mission is to help people live life to their fullest potential. Sometimes that is being able to work throughout the day without pain. Sometimes that is getting out of bed and brushing your teeth. There is no judgement and I am humbled and appreciative to have someone trust me to help them in their goals.
I am familiar with a large variety of body movements and mechanics and have plenty of experience with my own injuries. I also understand that healing from an injury can be difficult because you don’t want to take time off from activity. I don’t want people to settle for merely being out of pain for typical daily activities. Healing properly, to me, means being able to get back into your personal level of activity without discomfort. I’d love to help.
In network Insurance:
Javier Monje
Javier has enjoyed working with chiropractic clinics in the Seattle area for the past eight years. He excels in therapeutic massage with the intention of improving posture & helps heal from muscle injury, car accident, or surgery. He educates his clients on self care to progressively reach a point of living without pain. These goals are accomplished through deep tissue massage, trigger point work, sports massage, stretching, myofascial work, and cross-fiber muscle manipulation near the joint. While firm pressure is his strength, relaxation and comfort are still the ideal goal. Javier enjoys working with clients to resolve chronic pain, among other issues. By adjusting each massage to the individual client, he will provide a very specific massage for your needs. When he’s not practicing, Javier enjoys cooking & spending time with his family.
Can’t find a time? Get added to the waitlist! PIP, credit card, cash, & insurance accepted. Javier is not in network with medical insurances at our office.
In network Insurance:
Kaeleene Escalante Martinez
Kaeleene joins Flourish in Seattle from a spa on the east side. While working for years in customer service, she found her love language to be Acts of Service & naturally gravitated toward becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist. She loves to hold space with each of her guests, both physically and emotionally, to help them heal with a holistic approach. She uses mild to medium pressure and effective techniques such as Trigger Point Therapy, Relaxation/Swedish, & Hot Stone Massage to target and reduce tension, helping her guests relax and leave each session feeling lighter. It’s important to Kaeleene that her clients feel heard. She pays great attention to the areas her clients like to focus on, loves discussing her findings with her guests, and gives tips for easy, everyday self care for clients to do at home to improve overall quality of life. If you are looking for a warm and relaxing self-care experience, Kaeleene welcomes you.
In network Insurance:
Tatianna Para
Equipped with technique and intuitive wisdom beyond her years, Tatianna developed an early interest in the Healing Arts when she began working at a massage boutique while still in high school.
Graduating at the top of her class from Seattle’s Cortiva Institute in 2018, she uses her considerable skills to help clients relieve chronic pain and stress with pressure that ranges from light touch therapy to deep tissue. Tatianna builds long-term relationships with clients to create a treatment plan and evolve with their massage needs over time.
She specializes in Deep Tissue, Prenatal Massage, Hot Stone, Cupping, Swedish and Passive Stretching techniques to help correct posture and improve range of motion to relieve chronic stress leave clients in a state of deep relaxation. Tatianna generally likes to infuse scalp or foot treatments as well as stretching into her sessions to encourage unraveling of the muscles and tension in her clients’ bodies.
In network Insurance:
Kim Major
Kim is a healthcare professional at UW Medical Center and is inspired by the dedication and amount of care her peers in the medical field are giving to the community. While Kim loves her job at the hospital, she is more passionate about massage. She possesses qualities that make up an excellent Massage Therapist such as hard working, intuitive, driven, result oriented, empathetic and a calm demeanor.
Kim focuses on pain management, therapeutic or outcome based or integrated massage. Her skills include Relaxing Massages such as General Swedish, Structure Specific (Deep Tissue), Cupping and Hot stone massage. She also offers Medical/Treatment massage such as Myofascial Release, Lymphatic Facilitation, & Deep Transverse Friction. She works as a team with her patients and offers wellness tips or homework to help them heal faster and improve their lives.
Lastly, Kim advocates self-care, self-awareness, and self-love. Walk with them in their journey towards self-care is something she is passionate about. She provides a safe place for her patients to heal and relax.
In network Insurance:
Understanding the Upper Cervical Spine
The upper cervical spine consists of two bones, the C1 and C2 vertebrae. It is a critical area of the body that supports the weight of your head and enables a wide range of motion. These vertebrae are responsible for movement and play a vital role in the proper transmission of nerve signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Even a slight misalignment in this area can disrupt these signals, leading to various health issues.
The Atlas (C1 Vertebra)
The atlas is the first cervical vertebra at the top of the spine, connecting directly to the skull. This vertebra supports the head’s weight and allows for the head’s nodding motion. Because the atlas is the only vertebra without a body, it relies on ligaments and muscles to maintain its position. Misalignment of the atlas can pressure the brainstem and spinal cord, leading to headaches, neck pain, impaired nerve function, and various issues along the rest of the brainstem.
The Axis (C2 Vertebra)
The axis is the second cervical vertebra, positioned just below the atlas. It acts as a pivot that enables the head to rotate from side to side. Misalignment of the axis can interfere with this motion, interrupt nerve signals, and cause symptoms like dizziness, reduced range of motion, and neck stiffness.
Common Causes and Symptoms of Back Pain
Back pain can stem from various causes, each with its own set of challenges.
- Poor Posture: Prolonged periods of sitting or standing with incorrect posture can lead to muscle imbalances and strain, particularly in the lower back.
- Muscle Strain & Muscle spasms: Lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, or repetitive motions can strain the muscles and ligaments in the back.
- Spinal Misalignments: Misalignments in the spine, from the sacral to the upper cervical spine, whether due to injury or habitual posture issues, can place undue stress on surrounding nerves and muscles, leading to pain and discomfort.
- Herniated Discs: When the soft material inside a spinal disc pushes through its outer layer, it can press on nearby nerves, causing sharp pain, numbness, or weakness in the back and legs.
- Degenerative Conditions: Conditions such as osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease involve the gradual breakdown of the spine’s structures, leading to chronic back pain as the cushioning between vertebrae diminishes.
How Flourish Can Help With Your Upper Cervical Problems
At Flourish Chiropractic Spa, we believe in a holistic approach to health and wellness. Our team addresses upper cervical issues through precise, non-invasive chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic massage, and yoga-based exercise. Our approach is designed to gently correct misalignments, restoring balance and proper function to your spine and nervous system.
- Upper Cervical Adjustments: Our chiropractors are trained in techniques focusing on the upper cervical spine. These precise and gentle chiropractic adjustments aim to realign the atlas and axis without forceful manipulation. By restoring the natural alignment of these vertebrae, we can relieve pressure on the nerves, reduce inflammation, and improve overall spinal health.
- Corrective Exercises: We offer personalized corrective exercises designed to strengthen the muscles supporting the upper cervical spine. These exercises help to maintain the alignment achieved through chiropractic care and prevent future misalignments.
- Therapeutic Massage: Our massage therapists provide targeted massage therapy and medical massage to relieve muscle tension and promote circulation in the upper neck area. This helps alleviate pain and supports the healing process by enhancing the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments.
Seattle Patient Success Stories
What to Expect During Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care
When you choose Flourish Chiropractic Spa for upper cervical care, you can expect a thorough and personalized treatment experience designed to address your specific needs. Here’s what you can anticipate during your journey to better health:
Ongoing Care and Monitoring: As you progress through your treatment, we monitor your improvements and make necessary adjustments to your care plan. Regular follow-up appointments ensure that your upper cervical spine remains in proper alignment and any lingering issues are addressed promptly.
Initial Assessment: Your first visit begins with an in-depth assessment where we discuss your symptoms, medical history, and any concerns you may have. This helps us understand the root cause of your upper cervical issues and tailor a treatment plan that suits you.
Comprehensive Evaluation: We perform a detailed examination of your upper cervical spine, often including specialized X-rays to accurately assess the alignment of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae. This evaluation allows us to pinpoint misalignments and understand how they affect your health.
Customized Treatment Plan: Based on the findings from your evaluation, we develop a personalized treatment plan that may include upper cervical adjustments, corrective exercises, and therapeutic massage. Our approach is designed to gently and effectively restore alignment and alleviate symptoms.
FAQs – Seattle Upper Cervical Chiropractic Treatment
Are upper cervical adjustments safe?
Yes, upper cervical adjustments are gentle and safe when performed by a trained chiropractor. Our chiropractors use precise techniques to ensure your safety and comfort during every adjustment.
What are the long-term benefits of upper cervical chiropractic treatment?
The long-term benefits of upper cervical chiropractic treatment include sustained relief from chronic symptoms like headaches and neck pain, improved neurological function, and the prevention of future misalignments. Regular chiropractic care can help maintain spinal health, enhance overall well-being, and support a higher quality of life.
Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?
Yes, chiropractic care is generally safe and beneficial during pregnancy, especially for managing back pain. Our chiropractors are trained using methods like the Webster technique to provide gentle adjustments that accommodate the changes in your body during pregnancy. We’ll work with you to ensure your comfort and safety throughout your treatment.
How often will I need to come in for treatments?
The frequency of your visits will depend on your treatment plan. Initially, more frequent visits may be needed to correct misalignments. Over time, as your condition improves, the frequency of your appointments may decrease. Our chiropractors will provide a tailored schedule based on your progress.
How long does it take to see results from upper cervical chiropractic care?
The time it takes to see results can vary depending on the severity of your condition and how long it has been present. Some patients experience relief after just a few sessions, while others may require more time. Our team will work with you to monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
How often should I come in for treatment?
It depends on the severity of your condition and how well your body responds to treatment. Initially, you may need to visit more frequently to achieve optimal results. As your condition improves, we’ll reduce the frequency of your visits and maintain your progress with periodic check-ups, adjustments, and regular massage therapy.
How long does it take to see results from upper cervical chiropractic care?
The time it takes to see results can vary depending on the severity of your condition and how long it has been present. Some patients experience relief after just a few sessions, while others may require more time. Our team will work with you to monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
Can upper cervical chiropractic treatment help reduce my neck hump?
Upper cervical chiropractic treatment can be an important part of a comprehensive approach to reducing a dowager’s hump. While the primary cause of a neck hump is often related to the curvature of the thoracic spine, poor posture, and muscle imbalances, addressing misalignments in the upper cervical spine, including the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae, can help improve overall posture and spinal alignment.
Can upper cervical misalignment cause back pain?
Yes. When the atlas and axis are out of alignment, it can disrupt the overall balance and posture of the spine. This misalignment can cause compensatory changes throughout the spine, increasing stress and strain on other areas, including the lower back. As the body tries to compensate for the misalignment in the upper cervical spine, it can lead to muscle tension, joint dysfunction, disc problems, sciatica, and, eventually, pain in the mid or lower back.
Is upper cervical chiropractic care covered by insurance?
Many insurance plans do cover chiropractic care, including upper cervical treatments. We recommend checking with your insurance provider to understand your specific coverage. Our office staff is also available to assist you with any insurance-related questions.
Most Common Disorders In The Patients We Treat
Pain Management
Chiropractic Care and Adjustments
Relieve pain and improve mobility with personalized chiropractic adjustments.
TMJ Chiropractic Care/Adjustments
Relieve jaw tension and improve comfort with targeted TMJ adjustments and massage therapy.
Sciatica
Ease sciatic nerve pain with targeted adjustments and therapy to relieve pressure and restore comfort.
Back Pain
Reduce back pain and enhance mobility with focused chiropractic adjustments and therapeutic care.
Upper Cervical Pain
Relieve upper cervical discomfort with precise chiropractic adjustments and specialized therapies.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Ease the strain of repetitive motions with specialized care for injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Injury Treatment & Rehabilitation
Accident Recovery
Reclaim your mobility and comfort after accidents with personalized rehabilitation plans.
Sports Injuries
Get back to the game stronger with our expert treatments for sports-related injuries.
Stress & Tension Relief
Massage Therapy
Relieve stress and tension with therapeutic massage techniques designed to relax the body and mind.
Cupping Therapy
Soothe your spine with targeted therapies designed to alleviate back and neck discomfort.
Pregnancy Wellness
Support your body and ease your mind with treatments focused on comfort and relief during your pregnancy.
TMJ Massage
Relieve TMJ discomfort with specialized massage techniques to reduce jaw tension and pain.
Body Tension
Unwind and release deep-seated tension with therapies that relax both body and mind.
Stress and Anxiety
Find your peace through holistic approaches aimed at reducing stress and enhancing mental well-being.
Preventive Care & Well-being
Chiropractic Webster Technique
Support your pregnancy with the Webster Technique for comfort and pelvic alignment.
Preventive Treatments
Stay ahead of injuries with preventive care designed to keep you moving freely.
Overall Well-being
Enhance your overall health with comprehensive wellness programs tailored to nourish body and soul.