Suboccipital Release

Purpose: To relieve headaches and upper cervical pain 

Procedure: With the patient lying in supine, sit at the head of the plinth with your elbows firmly supported. Place your fingers under the patients head to each side of the cervical spinous processes, and slowly pull fingers along the patient’s skin toward you until you reach the firmness of the occipital ridge. Allow your fingers to move slightly toward the patient again, and sink into the soft structures at the base of the occiput. Elevate the cranium slowly toward the ceiling by bending your metacarpal phalangeal joints to 90 degrees, keeping your hands next to each other. Hold in that position for at least 90-120 seconds until you feel the myofascial structures soften, like butter melting. It may take up to 3-5 minutes to feel the softening. 

Comments: A vertebral artery test should be done prior to any upper cervical techniques.