Cervical spine motion testing

Gross motion of the cervical spine is tested with the patient in a seated position and the physician standing behind him or to his side. Each direction of motion is tested while monitoring at the cervicothoracic junction (between C7 and Tl) or at the distal shoulder. 

FIG. 25-1 Gross motion testing of the cervical spine, forward bending,... 

In the evaluation of the cervical spine for somatic dysfunction, the intersegmental motion between vertebrae is extremely important. There are several ways the cervical spine may be tested for individual vertebral motion. For all these methods, the patient will be supine with the physician seated at the head of the table. 

Strimpakos N., Sakellari V., Gioftsos G., Papathanasiou M., Brountzos E., Kelekis D., Kapreli E., Oldham J. (2005) Cervical spine ROM measurements optimizing the testing protocol by using a 3D ultra-sound-based motion analysis system. Cephalalgia. 25(12) 1133-45. 

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