Direct Lateral Flexion C0-C1 (sitting)

Position of the therapist:

  • Standing at the long edge of the bench or stool next to the patient

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 abdomen

Hand placement:

  • Fixating hand on C2 with a key grip
  • Hypothenar eminence on patient’s mastoid process on the contralateral side
  • Patient’s head fixated against therapist’s chest

Movement:

  • Lateral flexion movement to the contralateral side by a coupled movement between the working hand and the chest. The movement has to take place around a sagittal axis through the nose of the patient.
    Futhermore, one can specify if the limitation lies on the contralateral or the ipsilateral condyle of the occiput.
    To pronounce the downslip movement of the contralateral condyle of C0, perform the same lateral flexion movement with C0-C1 in extension.To pronounce the upslip movement of the ipsilateral condyle of C0, perform the same lateral flexion movement with C0-C1 in flexion.