Cervical active range of motion assessment

Cervical active range of motion flexion and extension inclinometer

Closed Caption Transcript:
Google Translate 
1

00:00:00,610 –> 00:00:03,930

The patient’s seated in

a tall upright position.


2

00:00:03,930 –> 00:00:06,193

Place an inclinometer

on the top of her head.


3

00:00:07,060 –> 00:00:10,100

Have the patient flex

forward as far as possible


4

00:00:10,100 –> 00:00:12,320

and then return back to neutral.


5

00:00:12,320 –> 00:00:14,640

Have the neck extend as far as possible


6

00:00:14,640 –> 00:00:16,430

and return back to neutral,


7

00:00:16,430 –> 00:00:18,670

looking for a range of motion limitations


8

00:00:18,670 –> 00:00:21,110

as well as reproduction of symptoms.


9

00:00:21,110 –> 00:00:24,300

Limitations in deflection

and extension direction


10

00:00:24,300 –> 00:00:26,630

has been found clinically

relevant in the diagnosis


11

00:00:26,630 –> 00:00:28,453

of cervicogenic headaches.

Purpose

  • To assess for range of motion limitations and reproduction of symptoms

Associated ICF Category

    • Neck pain with
    • Neck pain with headache

Patient Position

  • Seated in tall upright position

Therapist Position

  • Standing

Cues

  1. Place on top of patient’s head
  2. Patient flexes forward as far as possible then returns to neutral
  3. Patient extends as far as possible and then returns to neutral
  4. Look for reproduction of symptoms and range of motion limitations
  5. Limitations in the flexion and extension directions has been clinically relevant in headaches

Related Objective Measurements

    • Cervical with
    • Flexion rotation test
    • Cervical segmental mobility central posterior to anterior
    • Cervical

References

Williams MA, Mccarthy CJ, Chorti A, Cooke MW, Gates S. A systematic review of reliability and validity studies of methods for measuring active and passive cervical range of motion. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010;33(2):138-55.

De Koning CH, Van den Heuvel SP, Staal JB, Smits-Engelsman BC, Hendriks EJ. Clinimetric evaluation of active range of motion measures in patients with non-specific neck pain: a systematic review. Eur Spine J. 2008;17(7):905-21.

Grip H, Sundelin G, Gerdle B, Stefan karlsson J. Cervical helical axis characteristics and its center of rotation during active head and upper arm movements-comparisons of whiplash-associated disorders, non-specific neck pain and asymptomatic individuals.

Hsu WH, Chen YL, Lui TN, et al. Comparison of the kinematic features between the in vivo active and passive flexion-extension of the subaxial cervical spine and their biomechanical implications. Spine. 2011;36(8):630-8.

Castro WH, Sautmann A, Schilgen M, Sautmann M. Noninvasive three-dimensional analysis of cervical spine motion in normal subjects in relation to age and sex. An experimental examination. Spine. 2000;25(4):443-9.

Nightingale RW, Winkelstein BA, Knaub KE, Richardson WJ, Luck JF, Myers BS. Comparative strengths and structural properties of the upper and lower cervical spine in flexion and extension. J Biomech. 2002;35(6):725-32.