How to do a Postural Assessment of the Neck
How to do an assessment from the back, side and front views,
what to look for and what your findings tell you.
Overview
Using photographs, this course provides a simple and comprehensive method for assessing neck posture. It is ideal if you are new to postural assessment, of if you feel you would benefit from a refresher. The course lasts just over one hour, at the end of which you will have a clear understanding of how to conduct a postural assessment of the neck, how to document your observations, and what your findings may tell you.
Course curriculum
Introduction
Module 1 The back view
Lateral neck flexion
- Suboccipital muscles
- Using the outline method
- The consequence of prolonged lateral flexion
Neck rotation
Neck shape
Head position
- The tin-can method
- The plumb line method
- Comparing the tin-can and plumb line methods
Muscle tone
Other things to look for
How to document your findings
Module 2 The side view
Head position
- The tin can method
- Using a plumb line
- Comparing the tin-can and plumb line methods
- Bisecting the neck method
The forward-head' posture
- Consequences of the forward-head posture
- Measuring the forward-head angle
- Measuring versus eyeballing
The excursion angle
- Measuring the excursion angle
- The consequences of an increased excursion angle
Neck/ spine shape
The cervicothoracic junction
Muscle tone
Other things to look for
How to document your findings
Module 3 The front view
Head position
- Using the tin-can method
- Comparing back and front views using the tin-can method
- Using the plumb line
Lateral flexion
- Comparing the tin-can method, plumbline and outline methods
- The consequences of prolonged lateral flexion
Muscle tone
Facial expression and tone
Other things to look for
How to document your findings
Module 4 Checklist and summary
Checklist comparing the back, side and front view items to look for
Additional ways to document back view findgings
Additional ways to document side view findings
Additional ways to document front view findings
A 3-image simple approach to documenting your findings with added text
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1Welcome and Overview
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2Module 1: The back view
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3Module 2: The side view
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4Modue 3: The front view
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5Module 4: Checklist and summary