Understanding Upper Cervical Instability with Taylor Goldberg

If you have a bendy neck, this one's for you! 

For this week's episode of Zebra Talks, Libby has a fascinating conversation with Taylor Goldberg, a chiropractor turned virtual hypermobility coach. Taylor shares a bit about her personal journey with hypermobility and her shift to a virtual coaching model, and then helps us understand all things upper cervical instability (UCI), including its causes, symptoms, diagnostic challenges, and treatment options. UCI affects a whole lot of people with hypermobility, but good news: the most severe cases requiring surgery are quite rare even among us bendy types. Whew! 

Taylor unpacks a lot of definitions such as distinguishing between hypermobility and instability (no, they're not the same thing!). She also covers lots of good info about safe exercise practices, and emphasizes why it's so important to avoid certain chiropractic adjustments. The episode also touches on yoga practices for hypermobile individuals and the significance of conservative care in managing UCI. Highlights of this episode include: 00:00 Introduction to Zebra Talks 00:35 Meet Taylor Goldberg: Chiropractor to Hypermobility Coach 01:49 Taylor's Personal Journey with Hypermobility 03:40 Understanding Hypermobility and Instability 06:11 Upper Cervical Instability: Symptoms and Diagnosis 14:42 Managing Upper Cervical Instability 19:01 Activities to Avoid and Chiropractic Cautions 24:12 Challenges in Chiropractic and PT Training 25:23 The Need for Comprehensive Connective Tissue Education 27:02 Creating Realistic Expectations in Recovery 27:49 Step-by-Step Recovery Process 29:39 Exercise Categories and Proprioception 33:46 Managing Upper Cervical Instability 35:01 Yoga and Hypermobility 39:11 Resources and Offerings for Hypermobility 41:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts