When most people think about back pain, they imagine tight muscles, slipped discs, or stiffness in the lower back. It's the classic picture: a person bent over, rubbing their lower spine and wincing with discomfort. Naturally, attention—and treatment—tends to focus on that area. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t get as much attention: the top of the spine, where your head meets your neck. It may not seem logical at first, but problems at the very top of your spine can often affect the way the rest of your back feels and functions. That area, known as the upper cervical spine , plays a far more significant role in posture, balance, and spinal alignment than many people realize. If you’ve been dealing with recurring or unexplained back pain, particularly when traditional treatments haven’t provided lasting results, exploring the alignment of your upper cervical spine may offer fresh insight—and relief. What Is the Upper Cervical Spine? The upper cervical spine cons...