Patient is supine on the table with the operator sitting at the head of the table.

Operator’s hands grasp the sides of the patient’s head with the lateral aspect of the index
fingers monitoring along the posterior arch of the atlas and the rest of each hand controlling the head.

Operator forward bends the patient’s head by anterior rotation around an axis of rotation through the external auditory meatus while monitoring for the first movement of the atlas.

Using the hands, the operator introduces translation from right to left sensing for resistance to movement at his index fingers.  If resistance is felt, the motion restriction is to forward bending, right side-bending, and left rotation (ES_leftR_right).  Something interfered with the left condyle’s ability to glide posteriorly.

Using the hands, the operator introduces translation from left to right sensing for resistance to movement at his index fingers.  If resistance is felt, the motion restriction is to forward bending, left side-bending, and right rotation (ES_rightR_left).  Something interfered with the right condyle’s ability to glide posteriorly.