How Digital Motion X-Ray Helps Reveal Upper Cervical Instability
If you live with frequent headaches or migraines, you may have tried:
● Neurologists.
● Medications.
● Eye exams.
● Stress management.
● Diet changes.
…but still feel like your head is pounding or throbbing far too often. For many people, especially
those with a history of whiplash, car accidents, sports injuries, or falls, a major driver of
headaches is actually the neck specifically the upper cervical spine.
At DMX Miami, we see patients from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Miami-Dade County, Broward
County, the Florida Keys, and all over Florida, as well as from the USA, Central and South
America (Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Mexico) and the Caribbean, whose brain scans are
“fine” but whose neck mechanics are not.
Cervicogenic Headaches vs. Migraines: What’s the Difference?
While migraines involve changes in brain function and blood vessels, cervicogenic headaches
start in the neck and refer pain into the head.
Common features of neck-based headaches:
● Pain that starts at the base of the skull and radiates forward.
● Headache triggered or worsened by certain neck positions.
● Associated neck stiffness, soreness, or grinding.
● Pain on one side of the head or face linked to one side of the neck.
You can have both migraines and cervicogenic headaches at the same time one doesn’t rule
out the other.
How the Neck Can Trigger Headaches
The upper cervical spine (C0-C2):
● Contains joints and ligaments rich in position sensors (proprioceptors).
● Shares nerve pathways with areas that process head and face pain.
● Helps coordinate head and neck position with your eyes and inner ears.
When upper cervical joints are unstable or irritated due to ligament injury:
● Muscles may tighten and spasm to protect the area.
● Nerve input can become chaotic, contributing to headaches and facial pain.
● Certain positions (phone use, computer work, driving) may reliably trigger symptoms.
Why Standard Imaging Often Misses the Neck-Headache Link
CT and MRI scans of the brain are essential to rule out serious problems like:
● Bleeding.
● Tumors.
● Stroke.
But they do not evaluate:
● Real-time motion between upper cervical vertebrae.
● Subtle ligament laxity or instability.
● How your neck behaves under functional, weight-bearing movement.
Standard X-rays are usually taken in static positions and may look “normal” even when your
neck is mechanically unstable.
How Digital Motion X-Ray Evaluates the Upper Cervical Spine
At DMX Miami, Digital Motion X-Ray (DMX) allows us to:
● Record fluoroscopic video of the cervical spine during gentle, guided movements.
● Focus on the upper cervical region (C0–C2) where many cervicogenic headaches
originate.
● Measure abnormal translation (sliding) and angulation (tilting) between vertebrae.
● Correlate what we see with your symptom triggers (looking up, turning, holding your
head in one position).
We’re not replacing brain imaging we’re adding the missing piece: motion-based cervical
evaluation.
How DMX Findings Help Your Care Team
DMX results can help:
● Chiropractors and physical therapists design precise upper cervical stabilization and
mobility programs.
● Pain and regenerative specialists determine where to focus injections or biologic
treatments.
● Neurologists and headache specialists better understand the mechanical neck
component of your pain.
● Attorneys and insurers document cervical ligament injuries in med-legal cases when
relevant.
For you, DMX can provide a clear answer to:
“Is my neck contributing to these constant headaches?”
Who Should Consider DMX for Neck-Related Headaches?
DMX may be worth discussing with your providers if:
● Headaches started or worsened after a car accident, fall, sports hit, or whiplash
event.
● You have significant neck pain, stiffness, or grinding with your headaches.
● Brain imaging hasn’t explained your symptoms.
● Certain neck positions clearly trigger or worsen your pain.
Patients from South Florida, the USA, Latin America, and the Caribbean frequently travel to
Miami for this level of motion-based spine imaging.
Your Headache May Be in Your Head But the Problem May Start in Your Neck
If you’ve already explored brain-related causes and treatments, and you still hurt, it may be time
to see what your cervical spine is doing in motion.
Learn more: Treatment
Schedule your appointment today: Appointments
Call 305-275-7475 or book your appointment online
Dr. Rodolfo Alfonso, D.C.
Dr. Mark N. Berry, D.C.
Sunset Chiropractic and Wellness
8585 Sunset Dr. STE 102
Miami, Florida 33143