This involves having the subject start from a standing position, push up onto the table and recline as straight as possible. The assessor provides a small amount of headward pressure, gently removes inversion or eversion and then reads the length difference at the heel-last line. The leg check was always monitored and checked by a second assessor. A subjective assessment was obtained by palpating bilaterally at the levels of the C1 and C2 vertebrae for pain, tenderness or spasm. Earlier work has demonstrated the reliability of this measure.
Palpation is scored as a number which consists of the sum of qualities at each site.
For example, a subject reporting pain and tenderness at C1 left and spasm at C2 right would be scored as a 3. The results of the palpation, leg check and x-ray analysis were recorded on individual data collection sheets coded for each subject for group membership. Next, the adjustment was given. The subject was placed with the side of atlas laterality up and the opposite mastoid or temple supported on the headpiece according to the side of atlas listing. Headpiece, shoulderpiece and stressbar heights were set according to the results of the analysis of the lower cervical curve.