Testing the Muscles of the Neck



Testing the Muscles of the Neck


Note: This section of the book on testing the neck muscles is divided into tests for capital and cervical extension and flexion and their combination. This distinction was first described by Perry and Nickel as a necessary and effective way of managing nuchal weakness or paralysis.1 All muscles acting on the head are inserted on the skull. Those muscles that lie behind the coronal midline are termed capital extensors. Motion is centered at the atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial joints.2,3



Capital Extension


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FIGURE 3-1


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FIGURE 3-2





Grade 5 (Normal) and Grade 4 (Good)






Grade 2 (Poor), Grade 1 (Trace), and Grade 0 (Zero)








Grading




Grade 1 (Trace) and Grade 0 (Zero):


Palpation of the capital extensors at the base of the occiput just lateral to the spine may be difficult; the splenius capitis lies most lateral and the recti lie just next to the spinous process.



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PLATE 1


Cervical Extension


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FIGURE 3-6


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FIGURE 3-7



The cervical extensor muscles are limited to those that act only on the cervical spine with motion centered in the lower cervical spine.2,3




Grade 5 (Normal) and Grade 4 (Good)





Grade 3 (Fair)





Aug 25, 2016 | Posted by in RHEUMATOLOGY | Comments Off on Testing the Muscles of the Neck

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