Data-Driven Healing

Written By Dr. Riley Block

Your Neck Has a Story to Tell

Neck pain, dizziness, or brain fog aren’t just “in your head.” Your upper neck plays a huge role in balance, coordination, and focus—and now, new technology lets us actually measure how it’s performing. That’s where NeckCare comes in. It uses cutting-edge motion-tracking tests to evaluate how your head and neck move and communicate.

No guesswork. Just real data.

The Three Tests That Matter

1. Range of Motion (ROM)

This test measures how far and how smoothly your neck moves. Instead of a doctor eyeballing your motion, NeckCare uses sensors to record your exact movement in every direction. If you’re stiff, restricted, or uneven, it shows up here—and it helps track progress over time.

2. Joint Position Sense (Proprioception)

Think of proprioception as your body’s built-in GPS. It’s what tells your brain where your head is—even with your eyes closed. NeckCare’s Joint Position Error (JPE) test measures how accurately you can move your head away from center and then return to it. If you miss the mark, it means your “neck GPS” is off—something we often see after whiplash, concussion, or chronic tension.

3. The Butterfly Test

This one’s about control, not just motion. It measures how your eyes, head, and neck work together—called sensorimotor control. It can reveal subtle issues that normal range-of-motion tests miss, especially in people with concussions, neck injuries, or balance problems. In simple terms: it tells us how well your brain and body are talking to each other.

The Secret Behind These Tests: Suboccipital Muscles

Just beneath your skull sit the suboccipital muscles—tiny but powerful stabilizers loaded with muscle spindles (think of them as position sensors). They have one of the highest densities of sensors anywhere in the body, constantly feeding your brain info about where your head is in space. When these sensors aren’t firing correctly—because of tension, injury, or a neck misalignment—your brain loses track of your head position. That can lead to dizziness, headaches, or feeling “off balance.” NeckCare tests help identify when those sensors need retraining.

Why This Tech Matters

  • Objective Data: We see exactly how your neck is functioning before and after care.

  • Results Guide Our Plan of Care: The findings help us determine when and where a correction is needed—and when your body is holding its alignment.

  • No Guessing: Each scan gives us measurable proof that your nervous system is responding as it should.

The Upper Cervical Connection

At Rapid Chiro, we use this data to fine-tune care. When your atlas (the top neck bone) is aligned correctly, it allows normal nerve and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow—keeping pressure off the brainstem and restoring clear communication between brain and body. After alignment, these same NeckCare tests show how your control improves over time. That’s how we connect modern technology with the timeless principle of letting the body heal itself.

Dr. Riley Block

Dr. Riley Block is passionate about helping families live life in alignment—naturally. She focuses on gentle, specific chiropractic care that supports the body’s ability to heal and function as God designed it to.

With a background in upper cervical chiropractic and pediatric care, Dr. Riley has a heart for serving moms, kids, and families. Her approach combines precision with compassion—taking time to truly listen, educate, and empower every patient who walks through the door.

When she’s not in the office, you’ll find Dr. Riley outdoors exploring the Black Hills, spending time with her family, or experimenting with new healthy recipes in the kitchen. Her mission is simple: to restore hope, health, and connection—one spine at a time.

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