For measuring cervical flexion and extension, which combination describes the patient position, stabilization, and goniometer placement?

• A. Position: Sitting; Stabilize: shoulder girdle or sternum to prevent thoracic flexion; Fulcrum: External Auditory Meatus; Stationary Arm: Perpendicular or Parallel to the ground; Moving Arm: Base of the Nares
• B. Position: Standing; Stabilize: pelvis to prevent thoracic extension; Fulcrum: Center of the cranial aspect of head; Stationary Arm: parallel to ground; Moving Arm: base of nares
• C. Position: Sitting; Stabilize: sternocleidomastoid to prevent cervical extension; Fulcrum: External Auditory Meatus; Stationary Arm: Perpendicular to ground; Moving Arm: Base of Nares
• D. Position: Sitting; Stabilize: shoulder to prevent backward movement; Fulcrum: center of cranial head; Stationary Arm: imaginary line between acromions; Moving Arm: base of nares

Answer: (A)

Measuring cervical flexion and extension focuses on isolating the neck’s motion from the thorax, so you position the patient and stabilize to prevent trunk movement. Sitting helps steady posture and makes it easier to keep the thorax still. Stabilizing the shoulder girdle or sternum anchors the upper body, preventing thoracic flexion or backward movement that would skew the neck measurement. Placing the goniometer’s fulcrum at the external auditory meatus aligns the axis with the natural rotation point of the cervical spine during flexion and extension. Keeping the stationary arm perpendicular to the ground gives a stable reference plane, while guiding the moving arm along the base of the nares tracks how far the head tilts forward or backward relative to that fixed axis. This combination yields an accurate read of cervical ROM by isolating neck motion from shoulder or trunk contributions.