Life University

Gonstead Study Club

Cervical Chair Adjusting

Three Different Ways To Adjust The
Cervical Spine

 Seated Cervical Chair

Most effective because it allows for a
more specific contact

 Knee Chest
amenable to adjust an anterior rotated
atlas

 Prone on the Hi-Lo

The KC and Hi-Lo are used:

1. when the patient will not
relax sufficiently
2. a more P-A thrust is needed

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The Cervical Chair

 CC can be utilized for all segments

between condyle and third dorsal

 Back section of the chair can be

adjusted
 Depends on patient Ht.
 Kept in most vertical position
when possible (for pt. relaxation)

 Legs of chair come in various lengths

 Leg length will depend on height
of doctor

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Stabilization Strap
 Two purposes of the strap
 To secure the pt against the back of the
chair to prevent forward motion of the pt
 To prevent elevation of the shoulder when
the thrust is given

 When adjusting on the left side, the

stabilization is brought under the pts left
arm, across the chest, and over the right
shoulder.

 When adjusting on the right side, the

stabilization is brought under the pts right
arm , across the chest, and over the left
shoulder.

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 Patient Positioning For CC Adjusting
 Patients hands should be in lap
 Arms should never be crossed and folded
 Arms should not hang to the side or grasp
CC handles

 Legs should be fully extended at knees

 Never allow patient to place legs and feet
under the chair

 Feet should be rested on their heels

 Feet should not be flat to prevent any
counter pressure by the pt.

 Elevation of shoulder prevented with

strap
 Strap should be drawn inferiorward before
fastening

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Contact Points

 The contact point on the vertebra

will either be the tip of the spinous
or lamina.
 This is indicated in the listing

 The vertebra is contacted with the

palmer surface of the distal
phalanx of the index finger
 The middle finger is directly
adjacent for added stability
 Both fingers may be slightly flexed

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 Contact Hand Stabilization
 The contact hand is stabilized by placing
the thumb on the ramus of the mandible,
below the TMJ

 No pressure is added to the mandible by

the thumb

 The thumb guides the motion of the

contact hand when the thrust is made

 When the contact hand is properly

placed, an arch should be formed
 The degree of arch depends on which
segment is being adjusted

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 The Stabilization Hand

 The fingers of the stabilization hand are wrapped around the

posterior and lateral portion of the cervical spine.

 The stabilization hand should support the vertebra being adjusted,

particularly the one below.

 Stabilization hand placement will vary depending on which region of

the cervical spine is being adjusted.

 The function of the stabilization hand is to first stabilize and

secondly guide the motion of the head as the thrust is given.
 There is NO pulling motion by the stabilization hand

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Stabilizing For A Higher Cervical

 When a higher cervical is adjusted

the thenar eminence will be
brought over the ear.

 The thumb should run along the

angel of the jaw

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Stabilizing For A Lower Cervical

 When a lower cervical is adjusted

the thenar eminence will be below
the ear.

 The thumb should be below the

angel of the jaw

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Stabilizing For A Thoracic

 When a thoracic is adjusted the

thenar eminence will be below the
mastoid process

 The thumb should run parallel the

SCM muscle

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Stabilization Hand Placement

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 Cervical Chair Steps (Chapters)
1. Patient is comfortably seated (relaxed)

2. Dr. stands behind patient favoring side of contact

3. Stabilization hand flexes head forward to separate SP’s

4. Tip of the index finger is placed on the end of the SP below the
segment to be adjusted. Then moved up so the contact finger is
under and slightly lateral to the SP of the segment to be adjusted.

5. The thumb is then placed on the ramus of the jaw forming an

arch.

6. The head is then brought back into a more relaxed position with
the stabilization hand.

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 Cervical Chair Steps (Chapters)
7. The stabilization hand is properly placed along the
posterior/lateral portion of the cervical spine.

8. Elevate the chin slightly to separate the anterior portion of the

bodies.

9. Laterally flex the neck 10 -15 degrees toward side to be adjusted.

10. Slightly rotate head toward side of contact.

11. Slack should then be reduced by applying pressure on the SP

with the contact finger.

12. The thrust is then made very quickly, with a rotational motion of
the wrist and forearm, which lifts the spinous superiorward and
at the same time anteriorward and lateral.

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CC – Helpful Hint #1

 Always look at the segment you

are adjusting

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CC – Helpful Hint #2

 The forearm of the contact hand

will be in a horizontal position

 The forearm of the stabilization

hand will be much more vertical

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