Neck & Cervical Instability
Craniocervical Instability
Instability where the skull meets the top of the neck — a medically managed condition.
Also called: CCI.
Craniocervical instability describes excess movement at the junction between the base of the skull and the top of the neck. It is a medical diagnosis that requires specialist assessment and imaging, and it is not something chiropractic care treats.
It is sometimes associated with connective-tissue conditions or significant trauma. Symptoms can include headache, neck pain, dizziness, and changes in balance or coordination, but confirming the diagnosis requires specialist evaluation, not symptoms alone.
Why this matters
People searching for this term need to know clearly what an office will and will not do. Upper-neck adjusting techniques are not used where craniocervical instability is suspected or diagnosed.
Instead, the value we can offer is a careful, honest conversation about what falls inside chiropractic scope and prompt referral for anything that does not.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
This region carries the connection between the brainstem and the spinal cord, and it plays a central role in head position sense and balance. That is why any suspicion of instability here is treated with absolute caution.
Where a person has this diagnosis and is under specialist care, we can discuss what general nervous-system and balance evaluation might reasonably add, always deferring to the specialist team on management.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
This is a concern where medical evaluation, imaging or co-management may be the right first step. Dr. Mike Geran will say so plainly if that is what the history and examination suggest.
Common questions
- Can chiropractic care help craniocervical instability?
- No. This is a specialist medical condition. We do not treat it, and we will not use upper-neck techniques where it is suspected or diagnosed.
- What if I already have a CCI diagnosis?
- We will coordinate with your specialist team and stay within what is appropriate for you, focused on communication rather than hands-on upper-neck care.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Suspected craniocervical instability requires specialist medical evaluation. We refer rather than attempt to manage it.
- A feeling the head needs to be held or supported
- Progressive weakness, numbness, or coordination changes
- Difficulty swallowing or changes in speech
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Balance & Coordination — Balance is a whole-nervous-system task. It is also one of the easier things to measure and re-measure.
- Ankle Instability — A repeatedly rolling or unreliable ankle, usually following earlier sprains.
- Atlantoaxial Instability — Excessive movement between the first two neck bones — a medical finding requiring caution.
- Auto Accident Injury — Musculoskeletal injuries following a motor vehicle collision.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.