Although it may be common for people to experience recurring migraines, tinnitus, vertigo or other issues, people don’t have to struggle with these symptoms. While some people can spend years seeking traditional medical help to no avail, others may learn to live with these conditions that can negatively impact daily life.
What people in our area may not know is that a chiropractor in Pacific has an advanced approach that’s helping his patients get relief from ailments like migraines, vertigo, tinnitus, and several other health issues that don’t often respond to traditional medical treatments or chiropractic methods.
Gateway Upper Cervical Institute – a division of Orris Family Chiropractic led by Dr. Max Orris – uses specific techniques that utilize sound wave technology. This form of advanced orthogonal upper cervical care doesn’t rely on traditional chiropractic methods that involve twisting or popping to perform an adjustment.
Because orthogonal means “a perfect square” this form of treatment realigns the neck bone so that it sits in its proper place. The top bone in the neck is known as the atlas and when its optimally aligned, it should form a square between the head and the rest of the body when viewed on an X-ray.
“Our goal is to get everything as close to square as possible. We’re literally getting your head on straight,” he explains of the treatment.
This form of care is so advanced that Gateway Upper Cervical Institute is just one of two offices in the state that’s capable of delivering this type of treatment to its patients. Since the only other provider of this type of advanced orthogonal care in Missouri is located near Joplin, Dr. Max sees patients seeking care who reside in the Franklin County and St. Louis metro areas, as well as people living within a two to three hour drive of the office.
Dr. Max launched Gateway Upper Cervical Institute in 2025, because being able to provide this level of care and specific technique is something he’s wanted to do since graduating from Logan University just over a decade ago.
When he was finishing up his degree program Dr. Max visited several chiropractic offices along the Gulf Coast, shadowing Doctors of Chiropractic in order to complete his doctoral program. During that time, Dr. Max shadowed and learned from a chiropractor in St. Petersburg, Florida who developed the advanced orthogonal technique that Dr. Max currently uses at Gateway Upper Cervical Institute. Receiving an advanced orthogonal adjustment in St. Petersburg all those years ago is something that has left a lasting impression.
“To this day that was the most profound adjustment I’ve ever had,” he recalls. While Dr. Max wasn’t having any symptoms at the time that would require advanced orthogonal care, he says that he left feeling “really good” and noticing how different that adjustment felt for him.
Possible candidates for advanced orthogonal care
Although the symptoms of migraines, vertigo, tinnitus or even TMJ may differ, the root cause of these issues can stem from the atlas becoming misaligned. Whatever the initial cause, relief can be possible through advanced orthogonal care.
When a patient comes in for care, Dr. Max utilizes a series of tests and equipment, including a seated X-ray machine and a specialized chiropractic instrument, called a stylus, which delivers a precise, high-frequency sound wave. After a patient has gone through the X-ray process, Dr. Max reviews the results with them, and pinpoints the stylus exactly where the misalignment occurs for each patient, per their individual X-ray results. The sound wave technology delivers quiet, painless treatment for each person.
Patient results
Many patients who see Dr. Max for advanced orthogonal care have seen improvement in their conditions, often in a short amount of time. Tinnitus can be a common issue for veterans, and over time, people learn to live with the condition and can get used to the persistent ringing in the ears without realizing the impact it has on their hearing. One veteran with tinnitus who was seen by Dr. Max reported an improvement in his hearing ability after one treatment.
Vertigo impacts a person’s life since the dizziness condition creates a false sensation that the room is spinning, even when a person with vertigo is sitting still. Its impacts on balance and movement means that a person experiencing vertigo may have issues with fulfilling day to day activities, such as driving. Patients who receive treatment for this can often see improvements that allow them to get behind the wheel again.
Because getting optimal patient results is important at Gateway Upper Cervical Institute, Dr. Max also performs a series of tests designed to measure results and to better inform future adjustments.
If you believe you or someone you know may benefit from advanced orthogonal care performed by Dr. Max, reach out by phone at 636-271-2960, or visit Gateway Upper Cervical Institute on the web. Gateway Upper Cervical Institute is located at 409 West Osage, in Pacific, inside Orris Family Chiropractic.
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