Meet Dr. Justin Schallmann
I’m Dr. Justin Schallmann, and I’ve been practicing NUCCA upper cervical chiropractic in the Seattle Eastside for over 18 years. Back In Balance serves patients from Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell, Snohomish, and throughout the greater Seattle area.
NUCCA is a specialized subspecialty within chiropractic — I’m NUCCA Part 2 Certified, one of approximately 300 doctors worldwide trained in this technique. The precision requirement (3D imaging to establish each patient’s exact correction vector, then gentle contact rather than forceful manipulation) is what makes NUCCA different from traditional chiropractic and why it works for patients who don’t tolerate high-velocity adjustments.
If pain medications and short-term interventions haven’t addressed the underlying cause of your symptoms, NUCCA upper cervical care offers a structural approach — precise, gentle correction of the atlas (C1) alignment that can be a root contributor to chronic headaches, migraines, neck pain, vertigo, TMJ, post-traumatic conditions, and other cervicogenic patterns.
NUCCA Part 2
CERTIFIED
Serving Eastside
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Serving the Greater Seattle Eastside
Back In Balance Chiropractic is located in Redmond, WA, near the main Microsoft campus just off the 520 freeway. We serve patients from Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell, Snohomish, Woodinville, and throughout the Seattle Eastside.
Your initial consultation is complimentary. We’ll take a thorough history, assess whether an upper cervical component is likely contributing to your symptoms, and give you an honest read on whether NUCCA is a good fit for your specific situation. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you directly.
What Makes NUCCA Different
Precision Measurement
NUCCA uses 3D digital imaging to measure atlas position to a fraction of a degree before any correction. This objective measurement means we can track progress with real data at every visit — not just how you feel.
Gentle Contact
No twisting, popping, or high-velocity thrust. The correction is a light contact behind the ear — appropriate for patients with post-traumatic injuries, migraines, craniocervical instability, or general preference for gentle care.
Root Cause Focus
When atlas alignment is off, the entire postural system compensates. Correcting the alignment addresses upstream contributors to headaches, neck pain, and cervicogenic symptoms — not just masking downstream pain.
Drug-Free Approach
Objective Progress Tracking
Because we measure alignment objectively at every visit, you’ll see whether NUCCA is producing meaningful improvement. If we’re not seeing progress in the expected window, we’ll tell you directly rather than continuing indefinitely.
Long-Term Support
Once initial correction is achieved, maintenance care helps atlas alignment hold over time. For chronic conditions, ongoing complementary care alongside your medical team supports long-term wellness.
Do you suffer from any of these condition?
If you’re dealing with any of the conditions below, we’re happy to evaluate whether an upper cervical component may be contributing to your symptoms. Your initial consultation is complimentary — we’ll take a thorough history, complete appropriate assessments, and give you a direct read on whether NUCCA is likely to help your specific situation. If it isn’t, we’ll refer you to the appropriate provider rather than proceed with care that isn’t a good fit.
Insurance & Payment Options
Please note that we are providers for most of your health insurance plans including :
- Aetna
- Anthem BCBS
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
- Car Accidents and Personal Injury (PIP)
- First Choice
- Kaiser Permanente PPO
- Labor and Industries
- Lifewise
- Medicare
- Premera
- Regence
- United Healthcare
- Uniform Medical
- Premera
- Regence
- Uniform Medical
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
- Anthem BCBS
- Aetna
- Lifewise
- United Healthcare
- First Choice
- Kaiser Permanente PPO
- Medicare
- Labor and Industries
- Car Accidents and Personal Injury (PIP)
If you’re paying out of pocket, we offer payment options tailored to your individual situation. Contact us to verify your specific insurance benefits or discuss payment plans before starting care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NUCCA involve twisting or popping the neck?
No. We don’t pop, twist, or thrust the spine. NUCCA is fundamentally different from traditional chiropractic manipulation. Precise 3D imaging measures the exact position of the atlas (C1) vertebra before any correction, and the correction itself is a gentle, calibrated contact behind the ear — no rotation, no popping, no high-velocity force. This precision-based approach makes NUCCA appropriate for patients who don’t tolerate traditional chiropractic manipulation, including those with post-traumatic injuries, craniocervical instability, migraines, or a general preference for gentle care.
What conditions does NUCCA typically help with?
NUCCA upper cervical care is best suited for conditions where upper cervical (atlas/C1) dysfunction is a significant contributor to symptoms. The most common presentations we address include neck pain, cervicogenic and post-traumatic headaches, migraines, vertigo and dizziness, TMJ and jaw pain, whiplash injuries, post-concussion syndrome, and craniocervical instability. NUCCA also complements care for chronic pain, fibromyalgia, sciatica, and disc-related conditions where a cervical or postural component contributes to the broader symptom picture. For each condition, we’re transparent about what NUCCA can and can’t do — see our individual condition pages for detailed information on how NUCCA fits into your specific situation.
What conditions is NUCCA NOT designed to treat?
NUCCA does not treat allergies, asthma, seizures, hormonal conditions, mental health conditions, immune system disorders, or infections. It doesn’t modify progressive neurological diseases like MS, Parkinson’s, or ALS — though it may help address secondary musculoskeletal symptoms in patients with those diagnoses. NUCCA is not a substitute for medical care, prescription medications, or evidence-based treatments from your primary care physician or specialists. We work alongside your medical care team, never in place of them, and we’ll direct you to appropriate medical evaluation if your presentation warrants it.
How is NUCCA different from regular chiropractic?
NUCCA is a specialized upper cervical technique focused exclusively on the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae, using precise 3D imaging to measure alignment before any correction. Traditional chiropractic often uses high-velocity manipulation (“cracking” or “twisting”) across multiple spinal levels. NUCCA uses a single, gentle, calibrated contact behind the ear based on the exact measurements from your imaging. Dr. Schallmann is NUCCA Part 2 Certified — one of approximately 300 doctors worldwide trained and actively practicing this specific technique. The precision requirement is one reason NUCCA is a smaller subspecialty within chiropractic.
Do you treat children?
We evaluate children on a case-by-case basis, primarily for specific presentations where cervical involvement is likely — such as post-traumatic patterns following sports injuries, concussions, or falls. We do not market chiropractic care for general childhood conditions (colic, ear infections, developmental concerns) as we don’t believe the evidence supports those applications. For pediatric health concerns, we recommend working with your pediatrician first, and we’re happy to discuss whether NUCCA might complement specific care needs.
Do I need to have neck pain to benefit from NUCCA?
Not necessarily. The “upper cervical” region refers to the top two vertebrae of the neck (C1 and C2), and dysfunction there can produce symptoms that patients experience elsewhere — headaches, jaw pain, dizziness, postural strain, or radiating pain patterns. That said, we don’t recommend NUCCA for everyone. During your free consultation, we evaluate whether an upper cervical component is likely to be contributing to your specific symptoms. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you directly rather than recommending care that isn’t a good fit.
How long until I see results?
This varies significantly by condition and individual presentation. Acute mechanical neck pain often responds within the first few visits. Chronic conditions like migraines, chronic pain, or post-concussion patterns typically require 8-12 weeks to assess whether NUCCA is producing meaningful improvement. Complex cases like craniocervical instability may require extended care. We track objective measurements at every visit and are transparent with patients about progress — if we’re not seeing meaningful improvement in the expected window, we’ll be direct about it rather than continuing indefinitely.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes. We accept most major insurance plans including Kaiser Permanente PPO, Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Premera, Regence, United Healthcare, Medicare, First Choice, Lifewise, Uniform Medical, Labor and Industries (L&I), and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for auto accident cases. Coverage specifics vary — deductibles, visit limits, and copays differ by plan. We can verify your specific benefits before starting care so you know what to expect.
Ready for an Honest Evaluation?
Your initial consultation is complimentary. We’ll take a thorough history, complete appropriate assessments, and give you a direct read on whether NUCCA is likely to help your specific situation. If we don’t think NUCCA is the right approach for your case, we’ll tell you directly and help point you toward appropriate resources.