Course Description

The upper cervical spine is defined as the occiput, C1, C2, and all associated  vascular, contractile and non-contractile soft tissue structures.  The upper cervical spine system can play a major role in cervical pain, temporomandibular dysfunction, whiplash associated disorder, headache, dizziness and vertigo. Because the anatomy, kinesiology and arthrokinematics of the upper cervical spine are considerably different than the lower cervical spine (C3-7), effective management of the upper cervical spine requires evaluation and intervention techniques specific to the region.

This one-day course presents upper cervical anatomy, precautions and contraindications to orthopedic manual therapy(OMPT) interventions, screening and evaluation techniques, HVLA and nonHVLA OMPT interventions as well as active therapeutic exercise interventions specific to the upper cervical spine. 7.5 contact hours (.75 CEUs)

Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course the participant will be able to discuss and demonstrate:

• The anatomy of the upper cervical spine including articular, vascular, ligamentous and neural structures.

• Both subjective and objective findings indicative of precautions and contraindications to mobilization/manipulation of the upper cervical spine.

• ŸTesting the integrity and function of upper cervical ligaments.

• ŸTesting for compromise of the upper cervical arterial structures.

• ŸTesting the mobility of the upper cervical spine.

• Performing HVLA and non-HVLA manual techniques  to improve the mobility of the upper cervical spine.

• Instructing the patient in an exercise program to maximize function and minimize dysfunction of the upper cervical spine.

Method of Presentation

The course will employ lecture /discussion and hands-on laboratory techniques. Instructor/student ratio will be 1/12. ( 36 students maximum) 

Course  Instructors

Andrew Brenan is a graduate of the Kaiser Hayward  Fellowship in Advanced  Orthopedic Manual Therapy and has been teaching long and short term courses since 1994.  He is currently a clinical specialist at Kaiser Permanente in South Sacramento in the outpatient orthopedic department and a faculty member with the Northern California Orthopedic Manual PT Fellowship program.

Andrew Russell is a graduate of the Kaiser Northern California Orthopedic Manual PT Fellowship. He has been an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist for 15 years and is a supervisor and orthopedic clinical specialist with St Joseph Health in Sonoma County. 

Linn Harding is a graduate of the Kaiser Northern California Orthopedic Manual PT Fellowship and has taught anatomy and manual orthopedic PT classes for over 25 years. He currently works as a full- time clinical specialist at St. Joseph’s orthopedic outpatient department in Sebastopol CA.

Course Schedule

8:00 AM — 9:00  …… Anatomy and kinesiology of the upper cervical spine and indications for manual therapy to the upper cervical spine.

9:00 — 10:00     ……  Precautions, contraindications, rationale for ligamentous and vascular testing.

10:00 — 10:15              Break
10:15 — 12:00  …….. Evaluation procedures: screening for precautions/contraindications and evaluating mobility

12:00 — 1:00  ……….  Lunch

 1:00 — 3:00  ……….   OMPT: HVLA techniques for the upper cervical spine

 3:00 — 4:00  ………..   OMPT: Non-HVLA  techniques for the upper cervical spine

4:00 — 5:00 ………. Therapeutic exercise for the upper cervical spine

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