Diagnostics - Scan Lower
Static Assessment - Neutral Position
The patient to be tested should be placed in the supine position with the examiner seated at the head. The examiner should begin by placing the four fingers of each hand over the articular pillars. The articular pillar is that part of the vertebra that lies immediately posterior and medial to each transverse process. Join Dr. Philip E. Greenman, D.O., F.A.A.O., as he discusses the morphology of the articular pillar.
The articular pillar is palpated by following the deep fascial band between the semispinalis muscle medially and the longissimus muscle laterally. The index fingers should be on C6 (just superior to the transverse process of C7), the middle fingers on C5, the ring fingers on C4, and the little fingers on C3 (just below the spinous process of C2). Using the fingers of each hand, one can palpate for tissue texture abnormalities and functional muscle changes while localizing forces at the right and left articular pillars. This helps facilitate identification and localization of abnormalities to a specific segment. Join Dr. Philip E. Greenman, D.O., F.A.A.O., as he discusses the correct placement of the examiners hands upon the patients cervical spine.
This initial step in the scanning process is used to assess any tissue abnormalities and asymmetrical articular pillars. For example, you may notice that the right articular pillar at the level of C5 is more prominent than the left. This is referred to as a "
right posterior pillar at C5", and defines a dysfunctional segment that we will want to test. Remember that at this point in the examination, the cervical spine is neither flexed nor extended. This position is referred to as being neutral. Join Dr. Philip E. Greenman, D.O., F.A.A.O., as he discusses his initial findings and how they relate to his testing strategy.
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