Watson’s colleague has been pondering the value of the Flexion Rotation Test (FRT) since their last discussion. “I am not saying that the FRT should be abandoned; I am just questioning its role identifying C1-2, even if it (FRT) was provocative, as the referring segment”, reiterates Watson. “After our discussion, I looked up the paper
The Abandonment of C1-2 Watson’s colleague, still considering the implications of their last discussion, arrives in a reflective mood, “There is another issue that has been niggling me since we have been discussing headache and migraine. Recently, a paper[1] came across my desk which reported that the incidence of headache referral from C1-2 was only
Watson’s colleague wants to ensure his comprehension, “So what you are saying is that to rule out cervicogenic headache (CGH) because of alternating unilateral head pain is baseless.” “Yes, the silence of the medical model about alternating headache is conspicuous – ‘the reasons (for alternating unilateral – side-shifting – head pain) are unclear (1), and
Watson, sensing that his colleague has relaxed, decides to continue, “I mentioned earlier that other researchers have investigated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in cervical discs because it is recognised that the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) vary substantially in the content of the two main macromolecular components, collagen and aggrecan.”(1) Aggre… what? “What is aggrecan?”
“Let’s examine the perspective that the nucleus pulposus (NP) transforms with age to a more rigid fibrocartilaginous mass; it is devoid of viscosity,” resumes Watson. “Advanced technologies have made it possible to perform more sophisticated in vitro studies and in vivo and biochemical analyses.” “Take for example scanning electron microscopy (SEM); SEM has demonstrated that
