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 T10 into ventrocaudal direction
Patient slouches against the fixation
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 T9 and T10 by pushing the spinous process of T10 ventrocaudally with the thenar eminence
To assess rotation, move on to the ipsilateral transverse process of T10. Be aware that the transverse process is about 1-2 centimeters higher than the spinous process in the thoracic spine. And then move it ventrally with the thenar eminence or thumb
For the lateral flexion component, place the thumb ipsilaterally between the spinous processes of T9 and T10 and move the patient’s thoracic spine into lateral flexion with the upper arm
