Cervical Spine Anatomy

This course describes cervical spine anatomy, also known as the “bones of the neck”. The cervical vertebrae and joints include the atlanto-occipital joint (AO/C1), atlanto-axial joint (C1/C2), and the facet and disk joints of the middle and lower cervical vertebrae (C2 – C7). This course includes descriptions of the bones, synovial joints, disk/discs, joint actions, ligaments, bursae, relative location, the relationship between the bones of the cervical spine, and the muscles that cross the cervical spine. Further, this course discusses palpation and introduces cervical facet joint and neck muscle specific exercises, manual techniques, and interventions for dysfunction, pain, posture, and movement impairment. The cervical spine is included in the common compensation patterns known as forward head posture and upper crossed syndrome (UCS). Sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.) with advanced knowledge of the cervical spine and facet joints will improve their ability to analyze human movement and develop sophisticated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions. Further, this course is essential knowledge for future courses discussing injury prevention and physical rehabilitation/physical therapy (e.g. chronic neck pain, neck sprains, disc herniations, osteoarthritis, whiplash syndrome, cervicogenic headache), the relationship between the cervical spine, scapula and glenohumeral joints (e.g. over-activity of the upper trapezius can contribute to forward head posture, scapula dyskinesis, and shoulder dysfunction) and neck specific techniques for enhancing sports performance (e.g. cervical muscle release, facet joint mobilization, deep neck flexor activation).

Brookbush Institute's most recommended techniques for the Cervical Spine (see videos below):

• Assess:
  • Muscle Testing: Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test
• Self-administered Techniques:
  • Release: Self-administered Cervical Extensor Release
  • Activation:Deep Cervical Flexor Activation
  • Stretch: Levator Scapula Static Stretch
• Manual Techniques:
  • Release: Sternocleidomastoid Release
  • Mobilization: Mid-cervical Spine Mobilization
  • Manipulation: Cervical Spine Manipulation