HEAD AND NECK. BACK OF SKULL. Person sits. Examine from behind.

  1. Start on the top of the head, the parietal bones, to see if they are level.
  2. Use two fingers or your hands, about two inches apart and then about four inches.
  3. Move to the back of the head, the occipital bone, and see if one side stands proud.
  4. Do the same at the base of the skull, and also see if one side is higher than the other.
  5. Move to check the mastoid bones (behind the ears), next to the temporal bones.
  6. You now have a picture of the top and back of the skull.
  7. Adjust, making the skull even and according to what feels comfortable to the person.
  8. If the person does not have any problems with head or neck at all, leave it.
  9. If the mastoid bones are one higher than the other, adjust and check above the ears.
  10. The same for the bones at the base of the skull.
If the head bones are wrong, it is most likely that the neck bones will be wrong too. If you correct the bones in the neck and not the skull, then very often the same adjustments will be needed in the neck until you do correct the skull. So, if someone complains of neck problems, check the head first. Notes on the face etc come later.

NECK. Cervical Vertebrae. There are seven cervical vertebrae. The first - C1 - is called Atlas. The second - C2 is called Axis. The others are C3 to C7. Atlas has two sliding joints at the sides enabling us to nod. Axis has a peg (ondontoid process) which fits up into Atlas, enabling us to turn our heads. To check the neck. Person sits. Examine from behind. To get a good picture of the vertebrae that may need adjustment, gently touch the spinous process of each vertebra and see how sensitive each feels to the person. At first you are touching muscle and then you become aware of the bone beneath.
  1. Check each vertebra for a twist.
  2. The Atlas has a very small spinous process. Use you finger tips or thumbs on either side.
  3. Move down to the Axis and on down all seven vertebrae.
  4. Now you have a picture of the twist and how many vertebrae may need adjustments.
  5. To adjust, put a finger or thumb on the side that stands proud.
  6. Ask the person to turn their head to the other side; let your finger go with the bone.
  7. Hold that position gently and ask the person to return their head to the front.
  8. Let them breathe out as they do this; the adjustment occurs as they move.
  9. Re-check that vertebra.
  10. Continue till all are done.
  1. Check each vertebra for a tilt.
  2. The transverse process of the Atlas is below the ear, between mastoid and the jawbone.
  3. You may find it easier from the front while the person raises their chin a little.
  4. See if one side is higher than the other.
  5. The transverse process of the Axis is below Atlas.
  6. C3 is below Axis. It is easier to locate if the patient’s head is down a little.
  7. C4 to C7 are each just below the other.
  8. If there is a tilt, the person will tell you that it is uncomfortable when you touch it.
  9. You now have a picture of the tilt and how many vertebrae may need adjustments.
  10. To adjust, put your finger on top of the side that is too high.
  11. Ask the person to tip their head over to that side, this brings it down.
  12. Hold your finger still while they raise their head again while breathing out.
  13. If this isn’t satisfactory, put another finger on the underside of the side that is low.
  14. Ask the person to repeat the movement.
  15. As they return to the upright position, hold both sides still.
Sometimes it is helpful to stand behind the person and use the thumb and forefinger of one hand to check both the twist and the tilt of each vertebra at the same time. 7th Cervical vertebra. The transverse processes are wider apart than the others. To check how the neck is feeling after the adjustments, ask the patient to look to the left and right slowly. Next ask them to look down and up; they will tell you how it feels. As with checking the thoracic vertebrae, touch the spinous processes and the person will be able to tell you if they are correct or not by the extra sensitivity when they are not. It is advisable to check the first rib when you are checking the neck as it is so closely related. The person may feel some dizziness after neck adjustments but this passes. It is better if people take it easy for the next few hours at least to give the body time to adjust and all the systems of the body to flow more easily. Sometimes people experience an ache for a day or so but this too passes. It is important to warn them that this may happen and that it is the muscles settling down after having been tense. When working with people, it is important that they have consulted their doctor and that we are complimenting their normal treatment. If someone comes for help and the adjustments make no difference at all, tell them that you think they should return to their doctor. We can assume that more is at fault than adjustments to the joints can put right. Certainly it worthwhile for a person to try having the joints adjusted in this manner before having the trauma of surgery even if eventually surgery is needed. In some cases, happily, surgery is no longer needed.   THE FACE. Patient sits. Sit in front of the patient.
  1. Measure the forehead (frontal bone) with your thumbs just above the eyebrows.
  2. See if one side stands proud.
  3. Adjust by pressing in gently while holding the other side of the head to balance.
  4. Measure the centre of the brows to see if one side is higher.
  5. Adjust gently pushing up the side that is lower.
  6. Measure the inside rims of the orifices of the eyes and the nasal bones.
  7. Measure the cheeks bones, both ends.
  8. Measure the top jaw by looking at the space between the top lip and the nose.
  9. Measure the chin and bottom jaw. (8 and 9 obviously affect the teeth and the bite.)
  10. Compare the temporal bones particularly how sensitive to the touch.
  11. Compare the sphenoid bones.
Any of these movements often bring a sense of freedom to the face and sinuses, but as with all other adjustments, should only be made if the person wants them to be done. All can be returned to the original position if it subsequently feels more comfortable.