Technique Toolbox The Stucky Stack SAMPLE CASE A 35-year-old male army cadet pres-ents to the clinic with neck pain and stiffness. The patient notifies the doc-tor that the neck pain began follow-ing enrolment into the armed ser-vice, and has progressively worsened over the past five years. The patient also notifies the doctor that his neck movement is extremely limited and that he feels as though he is actively forcing his neck to move in certain positions. The patient also mentions that he has taken a variety of pain medications over the years. These temporarily alleviate the symptoms but they return when the medica-tion wears off. Physical examination Picture 1 – A lateral cervical film displays a reveals that cervical flexion and ex-decreased cervical lordosis, which is one of the criteria for a Stucky Stack adjustment. tension are limited. Motion and static palpation reveals a subluxation at C2 on the right, with associated facet inflammation. Palpation of the subluxation and irri-tated facet joint reproduces the pain immediately on the patient. Neurological examina-tion is unremarkable, and no indications for X-rays are seen at this time. The chiropractor begins a regime of chiropractic adjustments to the C2 subluxation, consisting of supine rotary cervical adjustments to the affected segment. Over the course of four weeks, the patient is re-evaluated to determine the progress of treatment. The pa-tient remarks that the pain is slightly better, but that he still feels that his overwhelming stiffness has not improved. At this point, the chiropractor sends the patient for X-rays, due to the lack of significant improvement with the patient’s chronic problem. X-ray Dr. John Minardi is a 2001 graduate of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. A Thompson-certified practi- tioner and instructor, he is the cre-ator of the Thompson Technique Seminar Series and author of The Complete Thompson Textbook – Minardi integrated Systems. in addi-tion to his busy lecture schedule, Dr. Minardi operates a successful pri-vate practice in Oakville, Ontario. E-mail [email protected], or visit www.ThompsonChiropractic Technique.com. John Minardi, BHK, DC Picture 2 – Contacts for the Stucky Stack are displayed on a skeletal model. Note how the thumb pad contacts the posterior cervical facet of the C2 subluxation. www.canadianchiropractor.ca 40 • CANADiAN CHiROPRACTOR | FEBRUARY 2011
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