Palpation examination of the posterior cervical spine: the ideal, average and abnormal

The two purposes of this paper relate to Man in or beyond his fifth decade The first purpose is to detail the 'abnormalities' which can be found by palpation examination of the cervical spine posteriorly, and the second is to try to explain what the findings indicate. The 'Ideal' spine, the Abnormal' spine and three groups of the 'Average' spine are defined. The method of examining the cervical spine by palpation techniques is detailed. Discussion centres around what is normal for an ideal spine and the average spine and what it is that changes when the average spine becomes 'abnormal'. The associated 'new' and 'old' tissue changes are discussed in relation to the common findings in the Upper, Middle and Lower Cervical Spine.