What Does the Research Say?

Research into upper cervical chiropractic care is still growing, but several studies suggest meaningful benefits for some people.

One of the largest studies followed over 1,000 patients receiving upper cervical care across multiple clinics and countries. The results showed:

• Significant improvements in neck pain and headaches
  
• Many patients improved to minimal or sub-clinical symptom levels
  
• High patient satisfaction
  
• No serious adverse events reported
  

These findings suggest that upper cervical care can be both effective and well tolerated for many patients (Eriksen, Rochester & Hurwitz, 2011).

Potential Effects Beyond Pain

Emerging research suggests upper cervical adjustments may also influence certain physiological processes.

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A preliminary observational study looked at secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), an immune marker linked to mucosal immunity. Researchers found a short-term increase in SIgA levels following upper cervical adjustments, which later returned toward baseline. While this research is early and exploratory, it highlights a possible connection between the nervous system and immune response — suggesting upper cervical care may support immune function in the short term (O’Shea et al., 2022).

Upper Cervical Care and Headaches

Upper cervical and upper thoracic adjustments have also been studied in people with cervicogenic headaches (headaches that originate from the neck).

A randomised clinical trial found that spinal adjustments led to:

• Greater reductions in headache intensity
  
• Less headache-related disability
  
• Benefits lasting up to three months after treatment

   

These results were stronger compared to mobilisation and exercise alone, supporting the importance of targeted care to the upper cervical region for certain headache conditions (Xu & Ling, 2016).

The Takeaway

Upper cervical chiropractic care offers a gentle, focused, and non-pharmacological approach that may be especially helpful for people dealing with migraines, headaches, tinnitus, neck pain, and certain immune-related concerns.

By improving joint function in the upper cervical spine and supporting healthy nervous system communication, many patients report improvements not only in pain, but also in overall function and quality of life. While individual responses can vary and further research is still needed, current evidence and clinical experience suggest that upper cervical care may be a valuable option for those looking to address complex, neck-related and neurological symptoms.