Motion |
Recommended Testing Position |
Stabilization |
Center |
Proximal Arm |
Distal Arm |
Start |
End |
Flexion |
Sitting, with thoracic & lumbar spine well supported by the back of the chair. Tongue depressor can be held between teeth for reference | Shoulder girdle is stabilized to prevent flexion of thoracic & lumbar spine | Over the external auditory meatus | Perpendicular or parallel to ground | With base of nares or parallel to longitudinal axis of tongue depressor |  |
 |
Extension |
Sitting, with thoracic & lumbar spine well supported by the back of the chair. Tongue depressor can be held between teeth for reference | Shoulder girdle is stabilized to prevent flexion of thoracic & lumbar spine | Over the external auditory meatus | Perpendicular or parallel to ground | With base of nares or parallel to longitudinal axis of tongue depressor | |
 |
Lateral flexion |
Sitting, with thoracic & lumbar spine well supported by the back of the chair. Cervical spine in 00 of flex, ext, & rot. Tongue depressor can be held between teeth for reference. | Shoulder girdle is stabilized to prevent lateral flexion of thoracic & lumbar spine | Over spinous process of C7 | Spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae so that arm is perpendicular to ground | Dorsal midline of head. Reference occipital protuberance. |  |
 |
Rotation |
Sitting, with thoracic & lumbar spine well supported by the back of the chair. Cervical spine in 00 of flex, ext, & lat flex. Tongue depressor can be held between teeth for reference. | Shoulder girdle is stabilized to prevent rotation of thoracic & lumbar spine. | Over center of cranial aspect of head | Parallel to imaginary line between the two acromial processes | With the tip of the nose. If using tongue depressor, parallel to longitudinal axis of tongue depressor |  |
 |
Flexion |
Standing with cervical, thoracic, & lumbar pine in 00 of lateral flexion & rotation | Stabilize pelvis to prevent anterior tilting | Measure distance between spinous processes of C7 & S1 with tape measure | Start in upright zero starting position | End with measurement at end of ROM | ||
Extension |
Standing with cervical, thoracic, & lumbar pine in 00 of lateral flexion & rotation | Stabilize pelvis to prevent anterior tilting | Measure distance between spinous processes of C7 & S1 with tape measure | Start in upright zero starting position | End with measurement at end of ROM with patient putting hand on buttocks & bending backwards | ||
Lateral flexion |
Standing with cervical, thoracic, & lumbar pine in 00 of flexion, extension & rotation | Stabilize pelvis to prevent lateral tilting | Over posterior aspect of S1 spinous process | Perpendicular to ground | Posterior aspect of C7 spinous process | ||
Rotation |
Sitting, with feet on floor to help stabilize pelvis. Cervical, thoracic, & lumbar pine in 00 of flexion, extension & lateral flexion | Stabilize pelvis to prevent rotation. Avoid flexion, extension, & lateral flexion of spine | Over center of cranial aspect of head | Parallel to an imaginary line between the two prominent tubercles on the iliac crests | With imaginary line between the two acromial processes |