Recall: Diagnosing the Thoracic Spine

Steps for Treatment:

EASE, COMPRESSION, BARRIER

1. The patient is seated with the physician standing in front or behind the patient.
2. Physician will use one hand to monitor the dysfunction with their index finger and thumb at the right and left transverse processes. (Ex: T2 E RrSr Physician is monitoring T2)
3. Using the other hand, the physician will stabilize the patients head.
   • For T1-T4 you USE THE HEAD AND NECK
4. Ease
   • The patient’s head and neck  are then positioned into EASE (Ex: T2 E RrSr Rotated right, then side bent right followed by extension) until relaxation is felt at the dysfunctional segment of T2
   • Slightly exaggerate position of ease (tissues soften)
5. Compression
   • The operating hand then adds a compressive force,  in a vector towards T2, until tissue relaxation is felt at T2. 
6. Barrier
   • While maintaining compression, the head and neck are carried through an arc of the restrictive barrier – You will move through the barrier to end up in the position that is opposite of your diagnosis – (Ex: T2 E RrSr Rotated left, then side bent left followed by flexion)
7. Release compression and return to neutral
8. Reassess

Video Tutorial: