A Case of "Military Neck" I had the most extraordinary session with a client this past week! I have a client with an intractable stiff and painful neck that’s lasted for decades. She had consulted and worked with DC’s, PT’s, and massage therapists. Most of the work done to help her has simply ameliorated the pain and enabled her to function. Computer work seriously aggravates it. We had our 5th session this past week and as a result of sequential NMR sessions, some of which were performed by others and not me, the accumulated improvements enabled us to reach and extraordinary degree of freedom for her neck. There are functional reasons for this event. 1. The neck tissue was softer and more malleable and negotiable as a result of past work. 2. The work has been progressive and cumulative. 3. There were coordination functions that had never been addressed before, such as the ability to do forward/anterior translation and side bend while doing so. For those who know muscle testing, here’s what I found: This intractable problem was a consequence of a dramatic torque to the right at the sub-occipitals. In spite of the Rt dominant rotation, she could not turn right past 15 degrees. Very confusing. The right Obliquus Capitiis Superior was locked ‘ON’ but the partner muscle for right rotation, the Lt SCM, was inhibited/non functional. All kinds of muscles on the right side of the neck were rigid along with OCS: Rt Scalene, Rt Rect Capitiis Minor; Rt Longissimus Capitiis side bending. Many unusual muscle patterns were involved in this confusing pattern. Lt and Rt Cranial extension inhibited the Cervical extensors and Lt and Rt Cervical side bending. When both sides of the body are simultaneously dysfunctional I usually anticipate a deeper level of Contralateral Confusion and the need for Brain Buttons. But that wasn’t happening here. When the neck was translated forward to enhance the Cervical curve the LT side bending muscle inhibited the RT one, but not when her neck was straight. So this client locks back her neck on the left side, flattening the Cervical curve. There was also gait pattern dysfunction with Lt Iliacus being tight but inhibited to the Rt Pec Min. Every crazy dysfunctional pattern we corrected led to more and more mobility. When we finished all directions were moving through full range and testing strong. It was a miracle! Can’t wait to see how it’s working next week…
[Jocelyn Olivier]
