Transverse Ligament Stress Test

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Purpose

Test for hypermobility of the atlantoaxial articulation.

Technique

• The patient is placed in a supine postion with the Therapist supporting the patient's head with the palms and 3rd-5th fingers.
• The Therapist then places the index fingers between the occiput and spinous process of C2, so the index fingers are over the neural arch of the C1 vetebra.
• The Therapist then lifts the patients head and C1 vetebra anteriorly, without allowing flexion or extension.
• The position should be held for 10-20 seconds.
• A positive test is the reoccurance of symptoms:

#Abnormal pupil response #Eye twitching or nystagmus #Soft end feel #Muscle spasm #Dizziness # Nausea # Paresthesia of the lip face or limb # Lump sensation in the throat.

Evidence

Provide the evidence for this technique here

Resources

Pettman E: Stress tests of the craniovertebral joints. In: Boyling, JD, Palastanga N, eds. Grieve's Modern Manual Therapy: The Vertebral Column, 2nd edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Lingstone, 1994:529-538.