What is Scanning Palpation?
• The AO practitioner contacts the soft tissue overlying the points of exit of the left and right C1 and C2 spinal nerves and assesses tissue compliance, inflammation and tenderness. The four points are then rated from 0 – 3, with 3 being the most severe and usually eliciting a painful “jump sign” from the patient. There should be some immediate improvement in the scanning palpation after adjustment. • If more objectivity is desired, the more accepted method of algometry (use of a skin pressure instrument) over the neck can elicit the same documentation, in my experience. Instruments are being developed in the USA to provide objective measurement based on tissue compliance.
