Osteopathic Technic
Ernest Eckford Tucker
1917
CHAPTER IX
Dorsal Region
Limitation to Motion: Lesions
The chief limitation to motion in the dorsal region
is perfectly obvious—it is the flatness of the top and bottom surfaces
of the bodies, and the thinness of the intervertebral discs. These
do not prevent motion of pure rotation, but they do all but prevent any
other kind of motion—except to slight degrees. Motion to slight degrees
is all that we find in other direction. A But it matters not how slight
is that degree, the shape of articular surfaces is adjusted to it, and
when it is exceeded, the danger of lesion is just as great as though it
were wide.
Limitation to motion of extension is from tension
on discs and bony contact of articular processes with bone below.
Exaggeration of this motion and lesion is hardly possible.
Limitation to flexion is first the flatness of the
bodies and the thinness of the intervertebral discs. Second it is
the interspinous and other ligaments behind; yellow elastic cartilage where
they are in line with the motion; white fibrous where they lie radially
to it. When the limitation to motion has been reached in flexion,
the anterior edge of the body acts as a fulcrum and any other motion tends
t o gap open the spinal and costal articulations behind. But under
the forward pressing weight which causes flexion, these may slide forward
over the anterior edge of the one below, bringing the surface of the inferior
articular processes (upper of the two in each joint) against the top edge
of the surface below; with possibility of indentation and lesion.
The ligaments, all tensed by this exaggeration of motion, serve to drive
it with greater force against this edge and to hold it there. Lesion
in the median line is not so frequent as lesions in other positions, merely
because in the median line the ligaments are at maximum strength in resisting.
Yet pure flexion lesions are by no means infrequent in the dorsal region.
When, however, in a position of extreme flexion, other motion is added
with exaggeration of motion, then is the greatest danger of lesion; because
the ligaments of only one side, bearing the strain, are more stretched
and allow greater exaggeration of motion for a given force, and cause engagement
against a corner instead of a side, with greater indentation and more power
to hold.
In pure rotation the first limitation to motion is
the costal articular surface on the inferior border; which allows rotation
around a center not far from the center of the body, for a short distance,
but deflects it upward, transforming it into rotation-side bendidng.
The spines rotating to the right, the side-bending carries the transverse
processes up on the right.
(Note that in the lumbar region the axis of rotation
is behind; the bodies rotate while the spine is open, stationary; rotation
means rotation of the bodies to the right and side-bending down
on the right. In the dorsal region this is reversed. The axis
of rotation is in front; the spines rotate, the body being often stationary
at its front edge; and side bending is up on the same side.
The limitation to motion in rotation-side bending
in the dorsal region is wholly ligamentous, unless t he head of the rib
may be regarded as slightly such a limitation. Probably all of these
ligaments are so adjusted that they reach the point of limitation at about
the same time. Pure rotation-side bending is added flexion.
Such lesions do occur, however. The strongest of the retaining ligaments
is beyond doubt the intervertebral disc, whose action is to throw the axis
of rotation nearer the center of the body; causing on the convex side jamming
of the upper articular surface against the upper and outer corner of the
articular process below, with indentation and lesion, and on the concave
side, gapping open; doubtless only a momentary state. When to this
motion flexion is added without recovery from the rotation, it simply
strains the point of contact to a point farther down on the articular surface
with more distortion, greater ligamentous pressure, deeper indentation
and more likelihood of lesion.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis of lesions in the dorsal region is made
in the same way as in the lumbar region.
TECHNIC
In the first technic described, that for examination,
a corrective effect is obtained, which is not positive but is often
effective in slight lesions.
Patient seated, operator stands in front; patient
places hands on operator’s shoulders, and head against operator’s manubrium;
operator reaches hands around patient and places fingers on either side
of spines of vertebrae;
And by pressing down, carries spine to full extension;
at the same time by lifting patient’s arms by means of operator’s arms
underneath he elevates ribs. In the lesion, the upper edge of the
lower articular process is engaged against the surface of the one above
throwing the latter into flexion, or separation. In this technic
the fingers pressing against the articular processes below tend to carry
them away from the point where they are engaged; or pressing against the
spine above, tend to flatten it out, making the lower edge of the upper
articulation the fulcrum for releasing the surface from its midway catch
against the edge of the lower.
Note that the articular process is opposite the base
of the bone, (opposite the cartilaginous joint), while in the fifth to
the tenth, the tip of the spinous process is directly opposite the articular
process of the next one below, so that the finger may press on both spinous
process of the bone above, and also on articular process of bone below,
at the same time.
In the horizontal position of the animal spine all
tensions are such that the vertebrae are automatically held in normal relation,
or if in lesion tend to be drawn to the normal. The following technic
utilizes this principle, reproduces the tensions as in the horizontal animal
spine.
Patient lies on face on table; rises on elbows, so
that upper arms are vertical, forearms lying along the table. In
this position the tensions are as in the animal spine. The ribs in
this position support the spine. The rib of the side in lesion belonging
to the vertebra in lesion is thrust forward, and so bears a relatively
heavier tension than the rest, tending to press the vertebra backward and
so to release the lesion. (Whatever be the direction of the lesion,
certain fibres of the muscles will be stretched, and in this position which
tenses all muscles these fibres act to put strong backward tension on the
rib—since all muscles attached to ribs draw toward the spine.)
Operator stands at either side of table, places thumb
on articular process of lower of the two bones in lesion, pressing down
(tending to directly release) or on upper of two bones, pressing down and
out on spinous process, making fulcrum of lower border as in previous technic,
to release the catch above. Patient is directed to let his head hang
down. Operator then rotates head from side to side to the limit of
motion in each direction, with extra tension down and to side if necessary,
and with pressure from thumb as required, until lesion is felt to be released.
If extra leverage with the head is necessary, the
operator may brace the patient’s shoulder on either side against his abdomen
to prevent pulling patient so that upper arms are not vertical. It
is an important point to keep the arms vertical.
If patient’s shoulder-blades come so close together
that ribs cannot be reached, operator may press patient’s shoulders to
side, uncovering ribs of that side, until he is able to apply thumb to
lesion.
Caution. The head in such technic should be
kept low, and the face should be turned slightly to the side to which the
head is being carried—the face should go first, in either direction; for
it not the effect of the tension is on the vertebrae of the neck, in a
position that is practically abnormal for the neck—extension and rotation.
With the face slightly turned in the direction of the pull, the effect
is to cause side-bending of the opposite side well down in the dorsal region,
with tendency to release the catch.
This technic is available in some patients through
the whole dorsal region, but is less likely to be effective in the lower
three and the upper two, where indeed it is rarely effective. It
is effective also for rib lesions. It is especially valuable in asthmatic
patients.
This same principle may be applied with the patient
supine, but requires some strength of fingers.
Patient supine on table, operator stands at either
side; crosses arms of patient over breast, arm nearest the operator being
below, other above (otherwise the patient’s elbows will be in line with
the sternum of operator, whereas with near arm below they are on opposite
sides of manubrium as operator presses breast against them in next phase;
the elbows in this position present a broad surface for pressure of operator’s
chest); operator draws patient’s arms taut down against patient’s
chest so as to bring pressure against ribs, and to tense pectoral muscles;
operator then applies his own chest to patient’s elbows; not too low—about
the second costal cartilages, pressing down slightly; he then passes his
two hands around patient’s body and applies them to lesions; with knuckles
resting against table and fingers raised against lesion, he exerts firm
pressure upward against lesion or bone below, or both. Then with
his breast he makes a quick and firm pressure against the elbows in the
direction of the lesion or slightly above, while maintaining firm upward
pressure with fingers. The effect of this is the same as above--it
disengages the catch by carrying the lower of the two bones away from the
upper, or by making a fulcrum of the lower border of the upper articular
surface.
Some practice is necessary to use this technic to
the best advantage. Properly used it is one of the most effective.
It is effective in some patients as low as the eleventh dorsal and as high
as the third. In adjusting the lower lesions the elbows should be
carried farther down on the patient’s chest and the direction of pressure
of the operator’s chest is lower. In adjusting the upper vertebrae
the patient’s arms and the pressure of the operator’s chest are more nearly
vertical. This is especially valuable in anterior upper dorsal warps.
Caution. In some patients the coracoid processes
are long and the arms in this position exert smart pressure against them
so that the technic is very painful. In such patients this technic
should not be used or should be used with proper caution. Sensitive
shoulder muscles also may cause considerable pain and this also should
be guarded against. In patients with valvular lesions it is contra-indicated.
This same principle but without use of the shoulder
muscles may be used with the patient seated; operator standing behind;
passes arms under patients arms and clasps hands against manubriium drawing
patient back against operator’s chest; then lifting and drawing quickly
backward on manubrium, patient being completely relaxed, the lesion is
released through pressure of the ribs and drag of the rest of the vertebral
column. This technic is available in the upper two or three dorsal
vertebrae. It is necessary to be sure that the pressure of the clasped
hands is against the ribs belonging to the two bones in lesion, and that
the contact with operator is below that point.
Caution. This technic too vigorously applied
has been known to injure the sternum, or the cartilages of the ribs.
The spines of dorsal vertebrae extend sharply down
and somewhat back, varying in the different regions (more sharply back
in the upper and lower dorsal, more sharply down in the mid dorsals).
Pressure to the opposite side on a spine rotated to one side therefore
tends to carry the articular surface down on the affected side and up on
the opposite side, thus increasing the articular surface back on the affected
side against the tension in the engaged point; but tends also to draw the
fulcrum of the sound side, and so to release it. Technic which offsets
the first of these effects leaves the second of them effective in releasing
the lesion.
Patient seated on table, operator standing behind,
passes arm under patient’s arm on affected side and grasps opposite shoulder;
presses with thumb against prominent side of lesion; executes a modified
corkscrew motion to secure relaxation of patient; then carrying trunk to
the limit of rotation so that ligaments and articular surface on opposite
side are all tense and so create a fulcrum, he lifts and draws back on
near shoulder and draws forward on opposite shoulder, while pressing with
thumb against lesion. If this is not effective, he may while holding
all in tension thus, carry patient first to full flexion and then to full
extension, and repeat until lesion is overcome. Release occurs in
full flexion plus rotation.
The technic for the upper three dorsals is more difficult
than that for the rest. Here motion is slight, and lesions frequent;
and here the shoulder muscles have little value. Recourse is usually
had to the leverage of the neck.
With patient seated, operator standing behind, thumb
is placed against prominent side of spinous process of vertebra in lesion;
patient’s head if drawn forward to full flexion and to side opposite to
side of lesion, stretching ligaments of side in lesion; is then swung without
releasing flexion to side of lesion, to limit of motion, then pressure
down and back is added. This tends to separate articular surfaces,
aided by pressure of thumb. Or pressure of thumb may be against articular
processes of vertebra below; or thumb may press against spinous process
of bone in lesion, knuckle of first finger against opposite side of spinous
process of vertebra below. Holding thumb and finger in this position,
the head may be swung from side to side always in flexion to limit of side-bending,
until lesion is released.
For lesions that resist these corrective measures,
a technic that involves side-bending only may be employed. Patient
lies on side on table, lesion side uppermost. Lifting patient’s shoulders
from table, operator places on table under patient’s shoulders his knee
and thigh, using the leg nearest the foot of the table, and laying it flat
against table on outer side of thigh (assuming lesion to right, patient
lying on left side, he places his left leg on table); then lowers patient
across thigh so that leg fits into axilla, patient’s arms being up and
forward, out of the way. Across this fulcrum he presses patient’s
head down to limit of motion, stretching ligaments of lesion; then lifts
head up to limit of motion (always remembering to keep face toward side
of bending) with pressure against prominent side of lesion, repeating with
wider stretching of head and heavier pressure (within limits) and if necessary
with greater and greater degrees of flexion, or extension, until lesion
is felt to be released. In this technic the rib braced against the
thigh aids in fixing the vertebra below and in focussing the corrective
force.
This technic is available from about the seventh dorsal
to the first dorsal. With traction upward instead of downward it is effective
for lesions of opposite side (to left). It is available also for many
rib lesions.
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