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MYOFASCIAL TECHNIQUES Incidentally, the back-of-the- Engaging Prevertebral Muscles. The active version of the Posterior Cervical Wedges technique engages the prevertebral muscles along the front of the spine (arrows) to help open any narrowed spaces between posterior spinous processes.3 neck lengthening that we're looking for involves more than just releasing the posterior joint spaces—it also involves engaging the prevertebral muscles along the anterior side of the spine: the longus capitis, rectus capitis, and longus colli (Image 6). These deep, front-side antagonists to the posterior neck extensors help balance and coordinate cervical flexion and extension. In a cervical lordosis pattern, they are typically underutilized. The active version of the wedge technique automatically engages these prevertebral muscles; you'll be increasing their participation in movement and posture when you're helping your client find flexion at each restricted joint. In a hypererect or military neck You may need to start with other joints, where there is already obvious flexion and extension with nodding. Once you and your client can both feel the motion at a mobile articulation, you can move up or down into the more restricted joints. Another pointer: often, practitioners and clients start with movements that are too large to allow the needed specificity. We're teaching the ability to initiate flexion and extension at specific cervical joints, and this almost always involves asking our clients to slow down, and to make even smaller movements than they're accustomed to. Be patient, stay in conversation with your client, and encourage him or her whenever you feel movement at the restricted joint. Although subtle, the movement will be clear and tangible to both of you when you've established it. pattern, use the active wedge technique in reverse, encouraging more extension (posterior closing) between cervical vertebrae. Find the most open or flexed vertebral spaces. Then, as you use your wedge to indicate these places to your client, coach him or her to gently pinch or close right around your fingers. Go for subtlety, specificity, and the ability to initiate extension right at the joint in question. Of course, is it important to avoid over- extending the neck, so stay focused on local extension at specific joints. BIG PICTURE These techniques are quite effective, and you'll see satisfying results by using them. Of course, alignment of the neck and head often involves more than just freeing local restrictions. The neck reflects what is happening in the rest of the body. Issues such as eyestrain, jaw issues, shoulder patterns, rib or pleural pulls, spinal rotations, hip or pelvis asymmetries, or even support issues involving the lower limbs, will show up as neck alignment problems. Other neck structures, particularly the scalenes and sternocleidomastoids may be involved. Habits of posture and body use can be slow to change. So, don't be discouraged if you find neck issues that don't seem to respond at first. Think bigger, learn more, refer to a Rolfer or other practitioner who specializes in big-picture, integrative work, or in movement and posture reeducation. And don't be afraid to experiment with these ideas and make them your own. Your clients' and your own level of satisfaction will undoubtedly benefit. instructor at Advanced-Trainings.com Inc., which offers continuing education seminars throughout the United States and abroad. The originator of Skillful Touch Bodywork (the Rolf Institute's own training and practice modality), Luchau is a Certified Advanced Rolfer and a Rolf Institute faculty member. He welcomes your comments or questions at info@ advanced-trainings.com. Til Luchau is the director and a lead NOTES 1. Arguably, the most common challenges to neck alignment involve shortened structures in the posterior neck and relative lack of engagement of the deep prevertebrals in front. Together, these cause the neck to rest in an extended, head forward, or lordotic position. In the opposite pattern, such as the true military neck, there is diminished cervical extension and a straighter neck. Although military neck is a common diagnosis, in our experience problems arising from a hyperstraight neck are less common than those arising from lordotic neck patterns, so working with a lordotic pattern is emphasized here. 2. Seesaw image courtesy Eric Franklin, originator of the Franklin Method (www.franklin-method.com), from his book Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery (Human Kinetics, 2006). Used with permission. 3. Prevertebral image from Ibrahim Adalbert Kapandji, Physiology of the Joints, Volume III (Churchill Livingstone, 2008). All rights owned by Elsevier, Inc. Used with permission. CORRECTION In the January/February 2009 Myofascial Techniques column, the photo captions on Images 5 and 6 were transposed (page 125). visit massageandbodywork.com to access your digital magazine 127