Transcranial Doppler ultrasound reveals surprising results about pre-manipulative cervical spine testing and sustained cervical spine rotations!

Manual joint mobilization and manipulation are beneficial interventions for neck pain, but high-velocity thrust and sustained techniques are linked to serious arterial trauma. The reliability of pre-manipulative tests of the cervical spine is not clear, and the impact of head and neck position on blood flow is still not fully understood. The existing research primarily focuses on the impact of head and neck positions on … Continue reading Transcranial Doppler ultrasound reveals surprising results about pre-manipulative cervical spine testing and sustained cervical spine rotations!

Transverse Ligament Stress Test

Purpose of Transverse Ligament Stress Test: To test the stability (hypermobility) of the atlantoaxial articulation and the integrity of the supporting transverse ligament (1, 2). Patient position: Supine lying with the head rested on the examination table (supported by a pillow) in neutral alignment. Examiner position: Standing on the head side while the patient is lying supine. Procedure: Give gentle support to your patient’s occiput … Continue reading Transverse Ligament Stress Test

Cervical adherent nerve root dysfunction: classification and therapy – A case report

Introduction: Mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT) of the cervical spine, also known as the McKenzie method, has been the focus of research in the field of musculoskeletal physical therapy in recent years. The MDT focuses on the patient’s symptomatic and mechanical responses to the systematic application of repetitive end-range movements. Adherent nerve root (ANR) is a specific form of dysfunction that occurs secondary to trauma, … Continue reading Cervical adherent nerve root dysfunction: classification and therapy – A case report

Journey into the upper cervical segments | A primer on neuroanatomy.

The upper two cervical segments formed by atlanto-occiptal & atlanto-axial joints are anatomically dissimilar from the functional units below. In this article, I am going to share some insights that might assist your clinical reasoning for patients with upper cervical neck pain. The craniocervical junction (CCJ) is a complex transitional region between the base of the skull and the upper cervical spine. It is formed … Continue reading Journey into the upper cervical segments | A primer on neuroanatomy.

Jackson’s compression test

Purpose of Jackson’s compression test: To identify the presence of cervical radiculopathy among patients with upper quadrant pain. Patient Position: Sitting upright. Examiner Position: Beside or behind the patient. Procedure: Ask the patient to turn/rotate the head to the unaffected side. Carefully apply axial compression vertically downwards through the head. Repeat the same on the affected side. Outcome: The test is positive if the patient has radiating pain down the arm on … Continue reading Jackson’s compression test