Standing posterolaterally at the long edge of the bench or stool on the side to be assessed/treated
Position of the patient:
Upright sitting position at the short edge of the bench/stool
Patient’s head at the height of the therapist’s sternum
Hand placement:
Fixating hand on C2 with a V-grip and other hand rotates upper cervical spine until resistance is felt
Cervical spine brought into slight flexion via the patient’s occiput and fixated in this position between therapist’s chest and working hand
Fixating hand moves onto C3 with a key grip into ventrocranial direction
In order to test the lower segments, the fixating hand moves down onto C4 with the working hand either staying on the occiput or moving to the contralateral arch of C3
Continue this way until the fixating hand reaches C7
Movement:
Maximal homonymous 3D movement with equal components of extension, ipsilateral lateral flexion and ipsilateral rotation
To test each component of intervertebral motion, slightly move out of the end-range and now test extension between C2 and C3 by pushing the spinous process of C3 ventrocranially with the fixating hand
To assess rotation, keep the fixation on C3 and rotate further via the occiput or push the ipsilateral arch of C3 ventrally with the thumb
To test the lateral flexion component, keep C3 fixated and move C2 laterally with the working hand
