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FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY Forward head posture is very pincott Williams & Wilkins gure 06.18 agonfly Media Group /14/09 EL: Functional Anatomy: A Guide of Musculoskeletal atomy for Profs common and easily identifi ed. In normal posture viewed from the side, the opening of the ear should be aligned with the point of the shoulder (acromion process). The client's eyes should appear level or horizontally aligned with the external occipital protuberance near the base of the skull. Short SCMs pull the head forward, compared to the shoulder girdle, and tilt the head back. This makes the eyes appear higher than the base of the skull. When positioned supine, the chin should align horizontally with the forehead from a side view. With forward head posture, the client's chin rests higher than the forehead and cervical lordosis is exaggerated. Lengthening the SCM helps reduce forward head posture, aligns the spine, and decompresses the vertebral joints. PALPATING THE SCM Positioning: client supine 1. Sit at the client's head and slightly rotate the head to the opposite side to slack tissue. 2. Locate the mastoid process with the thumb and slide anteriorly and caudally onto the thick SCM muscle. 3. Gently pincer-grasp the muscle belly and follow it toward the sternum and medial clavicle. 4. Instruct the client to lift his head from the table to ensure proper location. therapist, certifi ed athletic trainer, and certifi ed strength and conditioning specialist. Her private practice focuses on injury treatment, biomechanical analysis, craniosacral therapy, and massage for clients with neurological issues. She is the author of Functional Anatomy: Kinesiology and Palpation for Manual Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009). Contact her at functionalbook@hotmail.com. Christy Cael is a licensed massage Client Homework— Lateral Neck Stretch 1. sit or stand up straight and align your head over your shoulders. 2. tuck your chin slightly, then tip your head toward one shoulder. 3. keep your chin tucked, eyes forward, and shoulders down. 4. Breathe deeply as you stretch the muscles on the side of your neck. 5. return you head upright, then repeat on the other side. editor's note: the Client Homework element in Functional Anatomy is intended as a take-home resource for clients experiencing issues with the profi led muscle. the stretches identifi ed in Functional Anatomy should not be performed within massage sessions or progressed by massage therapists, in order to comply with state laws and maintain scope of practice. 88 massage & bodywork july/august 2011