Three-Dimensional Movements of the Upper Cervical Spine

Finite element analysis of moment-rotation relationships for human cervical spine

“…The mean axial rotational value for C1-C2 produced by 0.3 Nm (Goel et al, 1988) is close to that by 1.0 Nm (Panjabi et al, 2001). The mean value under flexion for C0-C1 and C1-C2 produced by 1.5 Nm (Panjabi et al, 1988) are even lower than those by 1.0 Nm (Panjabi et al, 2001). The same phenomena can also be observed from Table 3.…”

A kinematic and anthropometric study of the upper cervical spine and the occipital condyles

“…They are used in computational modeling, in the design of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), and in clinical investigations of joint abnormalities due to implants, pain, degeneration, and trauma (e.g., Amevo et al, 1992;Bogduk et al, 1995;Qiu et al, 2003;Zhang et al, 2003;Banks and Hodge, 2004). Although the structural responses of the upper cervical spine (UCS) are well known (Goel et al, 1988;Panjabi et al, 1988, 1994, Arand et al, 2002Kettler et al, 2002;Nightingale et al, 2002), quantitative locations for the UCS CORs are absent. This is a challenge to accurate and consistent estimates of UCS bending moments during complex loading, and makes it difficult to compare the results from different clinical studies.…”

A Revised Definition of Manipulation

“…An abnormal finding would be the feeling described in the term bblockage,Q whereby the palpated motion is felt to stop before the expected end-range (perhaps as compared with the opposite side if it is healthy) and be accompanied by a bhard end-feel.Q 4 Before stating the problem alluded to in the introduction, it is timely to recognize that recent spinal biomechanics experts have introduced the term bneutral zoneQ to describe the zone within a joint's motion which produces little if no actual stress on the intrinsic tissues and within which minimal muscular activity is required for joint stabilization. 6 For example, Panjabi et al 6 determined that the neutral zone for C1-C2 rotation was approximately 288, whereas the normal full active range is approximately 408. The notion of an belastic zoneQ has also been proposed 7 which is a zone in normal subjects which extends beyond the bneutral zoneQ and within which tissues undergo physiological levels of strain which increase but still remain less than sufficient to produce disruption or injury of tissues and within which higher levels of muscle recruitment occur for active stabilization.…”