Standing at the long edge of the bench or stool on the contralateral side
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 C3 with a key grip in ventrocaudal direction
Working hand placed onto C2 so that pinky and hypothenar eminence make contact with the contralateral arch of C2
In order to assess the lower segments, the fixating hand moves down on C4 with the working hand on the contralateral arch of C3 and perform a 3D flexion movement and continues this way until it reaches C7
Movement:
Maximal homonymous 3D movement with equal components of flexion, ipsilateral lateral flexion and ipsilateral rotation
To test each component of intervertebral motion, slightly move out of the end-range and now test flexion between C2 and C3 by pushing the spinous process of C3 ventrocaudally with your fixating hand
To assess rotation, keep the fixation and rotate further or push the ipsilateral arch of C3 ventrally with the thumb
And for the lateral flexion component, keep C3 fixated and move C2 laterally with your working hand
