Diagnostics Cervical Spine
C3-C5 rotation passive

Guide the person to sit comfortably, with feet on the floor and hands relaxed on the lap. Begin palpating for the processus spinosus of C2, noting that lateral to this position, there is no processus transversus; only the arcus of C2 is present. A little lower, locate the processus transversus of C3 with the same hand on the other side.

Hold C3 in place.
Palpate for the arcus of C2. Ask the person to remain in a neutral, upright position while you approach their head with your body, touching the lateral side of the head with your chest in the region of processus xyphoïdeus (incinatum). Consider the position of the cervical spine, which is not perfectly vertical in the frontal plane. Each vertebra has a slightly different rotational axis, with the XYZ axes positioned differently. Due to these subtle differences, the fragile morphological structures, and the delicate neurological and vascular distributions, apply manual forces with utmost caution.

With the head between the chest and one finger on the arcus of C2, execute a rotation carefully by moving the entire body of the therapist, while holding C3 between the index finger and thumb of the other hand. The rotation is performed by moving the therapist's entire body. The head of the person is gently cradled between the chest (processus xyphoïdeus) and the arcus of C2, moving accordingly with the therapist's whole-body movement. Continue this technique by holding C4 and rotating C3, gradually progressing down the cervical spine.
Rotating the head during Activities in Daily Life (ADL) is prompted by something to see (or hear). The initial body reaction is a movement of the eyes in the appropriate direction for approximately 8 degrees. Following this, C0C1 and C2 move accordingly in the same direction, initiated by the deep upper cervical muscles (m. semispinalis capitis, m. obliquus capitis superior, m. obliquus capitis inferior, m. rectus capitis posterior major, m. rectus capitis posterior minor, m. rectus capitis lateralis, m. rectus capitis anterior, m. longus capitis). This process extends down the spine without any joint reaching the borders of the free range of movement. The eyes play a crucial role in initiating and directing the entire movement, making them of utmost importance during diagnostics and therapeutics.