Standing at the long edge of the bench on the contralateral to be examined/treated
Position of the patient:
Upright sitting position at the short edge of the bench
Patient’s shoulder a little lower as the therapist’s shoulder
Patient crosses arms in front of the chest
Hand placement:
Establish contact with the patient’s back on the contralateral side by moving the arm between the patient’s crossed arms
Thenar eminence of other hand fixates T8 into ventrocranial direction
Patient brought slightly forward by flexing at the hip maintaining an upright trunk
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 T7 and T8 by pushing the spinous process of T8 ventrocranially
To assess rotation, move on to the transverse process of T8. Be aware that the transverse process is about 1-2cm higher than the spinous process of that level. Then, move it ventrally with the thenar eminence or thumb
For the lateral flexion component, place the thumb ipsilaterally between the spinous processes of T7 and T8 and move the patient’s thoracic spine into lateral flexion with the upper arm
