PISIFORM SINGLE TRANSVERSE No. 2
Uses
For rotated first or second Dorsals with which, for any reason, the “T. M.” fails. This move involves a use of the head as a lever, as does the “T. M.” No. 2. Inadvisable unless the posterior transverse of the rotated vertebra can be palpated—but often used in cheerful disregard of this detail by those sublimely capable adjusters who do not need to find a vertebra before moving it.
Palpation—Contact
Palpate as for No. 1 above. Very deep palpation will be necessary because the spinous process here is nearly horizontal to the body and the transverse is very deeply placed, overlaid with heavy muscles.
When process is found place pisiform bone of free hand upon it, pressing the muscles aside as much as possible to avoid bruising and resting a considerable amount of weight upon the contact hand. Fingers of contact hand may extend across the spine or downward and parallel with the spine. Or, the hands may be changed so that the palpating hand becomes the contact hand and is placed with the fingers gripped over the base of the neck toward the clavicle.
Head Leverage
The free hand is now placed upon the forehead and the head, which faces toward the contact hand, is flexed backward until the muscles seem taut.
Movement
Is a quick, but fairly gentle, movement of both hands together, so that the head is rocked still further backward at the instant an anteriorly directed force is applied to the prominent transverse. The result is rotation of the vertebra—unless there be a loose articulation in the Cervicals which gives way under the force applied to the head.
THE EDGE CONTACT
(“Point 2 Contact”—“Knife Move.”)
Name
This movement has various names. The name “Point 2 Contact” is handed down from the days when Palmer used three contact points and three moves and designated the middle of the ulnar side of the fifth metacarpal bone as “Point 2.” The name “Edge Contact” was applied later, during the improvements in its technic when the hooking of the thumbs stiffened its efficiency and made it very valuable. It has since been rediscovered (though in constant use) and re-named “Knife Move.”
Uses
A movement which uses the spinous process as a lever and is applicable to D 2, 3, or 4, and to any Dorsal or Lumbar from D 8 down, when posterior, postero-superior, or postero-inferior. It does not correct rotation except insofar as the shape of articular processes may aid an anteriorly directed move in rotating the vertebra.
Some Chiropractors have used the Edge Contact in the Cervicals but this is always improper, as it is practically impossible in some, and difficult in all, cases to cover only one spinous process when the head is resting on its side.
Fig. 27. The edge contact in Lumbar region.
Palpation
Same as for Recoil or Heel Contact, q. v.
Contact
Using the same adjusting hand as for the Heel Contact, place the middle of the ulnar edge of the fifth metacarpal bone in contact with the spinous process. If the vertebra be superior, place the edge of hand above, if inferior, place the hand below. This contact is especially good for S or I vertebrae.
Position of Hands and Arms
The fingers of adjusting hand cross the spine at a right angle to its long axis. The back of hand will be toward patient’s head except in adjusting the last two Lumbars, with which a change of hands is made necessary by the upward slant of the lower half of the Lumbar curve.
The palpating hand now grips the adjusting hand so that the fingers of the upper hand, held close together, press against and reinforce the lower on its dorsum and just above the contact point. The thumbs are hooked together as shown in Fig. 27, so that the hands may be stiffened and their tendency to roll avoided.
The elbows are outrotated and locked as in the Pisiform Double Transverse Move and both shoulders are loosened.
Movement
This is chiefly delivered with the upper arm, using upper hand to drive the lower. Force should be quickly delivered when patient is relaxed. The direction of force should be determined by the direction of subluxation and by the slant of the spinous process. Thus, when patient lies prone upon a bifid bench and sways downward against a lax abdominal support, the spinous processes of the lower dorsal make an acute angle with the plane of the floor. If one be superior, contact above it and force driven straight toward the floor will tend to correct the subluxation. There is a slightly different force angle for every subluxation correctable by this move.
This move is less painful than the pisiform contact and may often be used to advantage, especially in the Lumbar region.