Manuelle Medizin an der Halswirbelsäule

Abstract

Manual medicine is a medical technique by hand for diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctions of the locomotor system provided by physicians and surgeons. It is based on the actual state of the art in anatomy, biomechanics and neurophysiology and uses all actual results of translational research to understand and develop this method. The upper as well as the lower cervical spine are to be precisely examined according to a 3-step diagnostic protocol (mobility, irritation, provocation). Identified reversible dysfunctions may be treated manually concerning the functional aspect. Adapted to the individual case the physician will decide on the use of techniques like impulse-manipulation, mobilisation, neuromuscular or soft tissue techniques. The risk of an accidental treatment and aggravation of a spontaneous dissection of the vertebral artery is identical for all manual therapies. Degenerative, destructing and all infectious or inflammatory conditions have to be identified by manual, imaging or biochemical examination. These components of a dysfunction represent contraindications to manual therapy.