lab 1 goniometer

Cervical flexion ROM

0–45°

Cervical flexion goniometer axis

Middle of earlobe

Cervical flexion stationary arm

Perpendicular to floor

Cervical flexion moving arm

Base of nares

Cervical extension ROM

0–45°

Cervical extension goniometer axis

Middle of earlobe

Cervical extension stationary arm

Perpendicular to floor

Cervical extension moving arm

Base of nares

Common compensation during cervical extension measurement

Thoracic extension

Why must thoracic extension be controlled during cervical extension measurement?

It falsely increases apparent cervical extension

Cervical lateral flexion ROM

0–45–60°

Cervical lateral flexion goniometer axis

C7

Cervical lateral flexion stationary arm

Perpendicular to floor

Cervical lateral flexion moving arm

Posterior midline of skull

What should be done if the moving arm loses alignment during cervical lateral flexion?

Shift the axis left or right

Why shift the axis during cervical lateral flexion measurement?

To maintain moving arm alignment

Cervical rotation ROM

0–60–75°

Cervical rotation goniometer axis

Center top of head

Cervical rotation stationary arm

Acromion

Cervical rotation moving arm

Nose

Ideal starting posture for cervical rotation

Upright sitting

Shoulder position during cervical rotation testing

Shoulders back

Head position before cervical rotation testing

Chin tucked

Thoracolumbar flexion tape measure starting landmarks

C7 to level aligned with PSIS

Normal thoracolumbar flexion excursion using tape measure

~4 inches

Thoracolumbar lateral flexion measurement setup

Mark middle finger location in neutral and after side bend

How is thoracolumbar lateral flexion quantified?

Compare side-to-side excursion

Thoracolumbar rotation patient position

Sitting

What body region must be stabilized during thoracolumbar rotation measurement?

Pelvis

Thoracolumbar rotation measurement landmarks

Contralateral acromion to ipsilateral greater trochanter

Single inclinometer cervical flex/ext patient position

Sitting

Single inclinometer cervical flex/ext landmark

Top of head

What must be done before inclinometer cervical flex/ext movement?

Zero the inclinometer

Single inclinometer cervical lateral flexion patient position

Sitting

Single inclinometer cervical lateral flexion landmark

Top of head

Therapist position during single inclinometer cervical lateral flexion

Behind patient

Single inclinometer cervical rotation patient position

Supine

Single inclinometer cervical rotation landmark

Middle of forehead

What compensation should be prevented during cervical rotation inclinometer measurement?

Cervical flexion/extension

Double inclinometer thoracolumbar flex/ext upper landmark

C7

Double inclinometer thoracolumbar flex/ext lower landmark

S1

How is thoracolumbar motion calculated using double inclinometers?

Subtract lower reading from upper

Double inclinometer lumbar flex/ext lower landmark

S1 aligned with PSIS

Double inclinometer lumbar flex/ext upper landmark

15 cm superior to S1

Normal lumbar flexion ROM

0–60°

Normal lumbar extension ROM

0–20°

Normal lumbar lateral flexion ROM

0–25°

What should you do if lumbar inclinometers touch during extension?

Offset one inclinometer

Why offset an inclinometer during lumbar extension measurement?

Prevent contact that alters measurement

Why are objective spinal measurements important?

Support examination findings

Why are objective spinal measurements important for documentation?

Satisfy payer/documentation requirements