The Second Cervical Vertebrae or C2 also known as Axis has neurological influence on the sinus, auditory nerve, ears, hearing, optic nerve, eyes, vision, tongue, mastoid bone, forehead and immune system. It has been shown to be related to fainting spells. Because of its proximity to the brain stem, Vagus Nerve and Cerebellum C2 function has broad reaching effects. Normal coupled motion relates to normal neurology and brain function.
When you tip your head to the right the C2 spinous should move left. And vise versa when you tip your head to the left the C2 spinous should move right. Abnormal coupling means the motion is reduced or even reversed in some cases. For example reversed coupling is a common feature of scoliosis.
On this video Dr. J Hartley reviews a case of abnormal C2 coupling with left lateral bending of the head and cervical spine. When the head tips the left the C2 spinous does not move right or in other words in has lost its normal coupled motion.
The next x-ray shows restoration of normal coupling with left bending after 6 weeks of Specific Chiropractic Adjustments using the Pettibon C2 spinous adjustment. The spinous now clearly moves right with left lateral bending of the head and cervical spine.
The the last two images show normal coupled motion when tipping the head to the right. Note that even though normal coupling was present on the original x-ray the motion is further enhance by 6 weeks of Chiropractic Care.
