Atlas Specific Upper Cervical Care

Atlas Specific Upper Cervical Care We believe in restoring the body’s innate ability to heal through Specific Upper Cervical Care Restore your health from the top down, inside out!

Upper Cervical Care (UCC) is interested in the intimate relationship between the first two vertebrae in the neck, the atlas and the axis, and the brain stem. When subluxations occur in these top two vertebrae, the nervous system cannot communicate properly with the other body systems, and dis-ease can occur. The main goal of UCC is to remove interferences to a properly functioning nervous system, restoring the body's innate ability to heal itself. UCC is therefore concerned with the prevention of dis-ease in the body rather than the treatment of symptoms.

01/21/2026

You don’t create lasting health by doing more things.

You create it by doing the right things — in the right order.

If you feel like you’ve tried everything and still aren’t getting results, it may not be an effort problem — it may be a coordination problem.

In our office, we start by looking at how the brainstem and nervous system are functioning because that’s what coordinates everything else in the body.

We measure first.

We adjust with intention and consistency.

And we allow the body time to respond.

That’s how change becomes sustainable.

Putting the CARE in upper cervical care.
01/21/2026

Putting the CARE in upper cervical care.

01/14/2026

You can’t always feel nervous system stress — but you can measure it.

Paraspinal thermography is one of the tools we use to look at patterns of stress related to the brainstem and nervous system.

It doesn’t diagnose or predict outcomes.
It gives us objective information about how the body may be adapting to stress over time.

That information helps guide decisions about care and timing — rather than guessing.

If you’ve ever wondered how upper cervical chiropractors decide when an adjustment is needed, this is part of that process.

01/07/2026

Most people never see what’s actually happening at the top of their neck.

In our office, we take very specific upper cervical X-rays of the atlas and axis to understand the exact position of the spine and how it may be affecting the brainstem.

These images aren’t about finding “more problems.”

They’re about precision.

When care is based on accurate measurements, adjustments can be specific, gentle, and purposeful — and the body has a better chance to rebalance.

If you’ve ever wondered how upper cervical care is different, this is where it starts.

Your nervous system is constantly at work, whether you’re moving, breathing, digesting a meal, responding to stress, or ...
12/27/2025

Your nervous system is constantly at work, whether you’re moving, breathing, digesting a meal, responding to stress, or drifting off to sleep. It’s the control system behind nearly everything your body does, yet most people only think about it when something doesn’t feel right.

However, what many don’t realize is that your nervous system isn’t just one system. It’s actually made up of three interconnected networks, all of which rely on one critical structure to work together smoothly: the brainstem and the upper cervical spine.

Understanding this connection can help explain why issues in the upper neck may affect far more than just neck pain.

Read full blog 👇 here:

Your nervous system is constantly at work, whether you’re moving, breathing, digesting a meal, responding to stress, or drifting off to sleep. It’s the control system behind nearly everything your body does, yet most people only think about it when something doesn’t feel right.However, what ma...

12/03/2025
If you’re one of the millions of people who deal with recurring headaches or migraines, you’ve probably tried everything...
12/03/2025

If you’re one of the millions of people who deal with recurring headaches or migraines, you’ve probably tried everything: hydration, over-the-counter medications, stress relief techniques, and maybe even dietary changes. Yet, for many, the pain keeps coming back. What if the real source of your headaches isn’t in your head at all, but in your neck?

It may sound surprising, but your neck and nerves play a significantly larger role in headache pain than most people realize. Understanding this connection can be the first step toward real, lasting relief.

Read Full Blog 👇

If you’re one of the millions of people who deal with recurring headaches or migraines, you’ve probably tried everything: hydration, over-the-counter medications, stress relief techniques, and maybe even dietary changes. Yet, for many, the pain keeps coming back. What if the real source of your ...

If you live in Durango, you’ve probably noticed a shift in how people are approaching health and wellness. More and more...
11/30/2025

If you live in Durango, you’ve probably noticed a shift in how people are approaching health and wellness. More and more of our community is looking for natural, sustainable ways to stay active, feel balanced, and live pain-free, without relying on medication or invasive treatments.

It’s no surprise that Upper Cervical Chiropractic care is gaining attention here in the San Juan Mountains. As chiropractors in Durango, we’ve seen firsthand how this precise and gentle approach is helping patients discover lasting relief and renewed energy, often after years of searching for answers.

Read full blog 👇

If you live in Durango, you’ve probably noticed a shift in how people are approaching health and wellness. More and more of our community is looking for natural, sustainable ways to stay active, feel balanced, and live pain-free, without relying on medication or invasive treatments.It’s no surpr...

11/19/2025

Headaches don’t always start where you feel them. The upper cervical spine — the atlas and the axis — plays a major role in how your nervous system functions. Even a small misalignment can create tension, imbalance, and recurring headaches.
Curious if upper cervical care could help you? Send me a message anytime.
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11/17/2025

A gentle, precise approach for moms-to-be. 💛

Here’s how Dr. Danielle supports healthy, comfortable pregnancies with prenatal chiropractic care.

11/14/2025

Have you tried everything, but still don't feel like yourself?

11/05/2025

If you’ve tried a lot and still don’t feel like yourself…

this might be the piece that’s been missing.

Take a quick look around the space where we start.

Address

1800 E 3rd Avenue, #108
Durango, CO
81301

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 1pm
3pm - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 1pm
3pm - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 1pm
3pm - 6pm

Telephone

+19702596803

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Our Story

Your Durango Chiropractors at Atlas Specific are known for being experts in their field. Doctors Timothy Dugas and Danielle Donarski are 2 of only 1,200 Upper Cervical Specific Doctors in the world. The care they deliver is a postdoctoral specialty, requiring extra training and advanced certification within the field of Chiropractic. They change people's lives every day and provide real answers to chronic & debilitating conditions through specific upper cervical care.