RULES FOR INDIVIDUAL SELECTION
OF THERAPEUTIC TWIST MOTION OF NECK AND TRUNK
The neck serves as a link between the brain and the internal organs of the trunk. This means that twist motions performed with the neck are capable of influencing the state of both the brain and internal organs, and so they are effective in all kinds of diseases.
Neck bending in four regular directions
As a rule, making a twist diagnosis through the neck, left and right twist are used at different degrees of bending so as to check each cervical vertebra, its joint and the related muscles. Diagnostic twist motions should be performed smoothly and properly, without sharp turns, paying attention to any abnormal signal coming from the neck. Depending on the direction of neck bending relative to its direct position, the following movements can be singled out: bending in four regular directions (back, front, left and right) and in four intermediate (mid-) directions (left-back, right-back, left-front, and right-front)
Neck bending in four mid-directions
Having determined a twist position, in which the abnormal response appears, one should perform opposite- direction therapeutic twist motions.
Therapeutic twist motions of the neck might be both active and passive (hand assisted turning and holding the head). Assisted (passive) twist is preferable when the neck natural mobility is restricted and active twist is difficult to perform.
Bending at first cervical vertebra
Bending at fourth cervical vertebra
Bending at seventh cervical vertebra
Similarly, in twist diagnostics and twist therapy through the trunk spine, one should take care that each vertebra together with the related joint and muscles perform eight-direction twist motions (Fig. 26). This will prevent omission of any point that responds pathologically.
