Neutral Body Positions

Neutral Neck Position

Goal: Head tilt of 0 to 20 degrees, the line from eyes to the treatment area should be as near to vertical as possible. Avoid: Head tipped too far forward, head tilted to one side.

Neutral Forearm Position

Goal: Held parallel to the floor, raised or lowered, if necessary, by pivoting at the elbow joint. Avoid: Angle between forearm and upper arm of less than 60 degrees.

Neutral Back Position

Goal: Leaning forward slightly from the hips, trunk flexion of 0 to 20 degrees. Avoid: Over flexion of the spine.

Neutral Hand Position

Goal: Little finger-side of palm is slightly lower than thumb-side of palm, wrist aligned with forearm. Avoid: Thumb-side of palm rotated down so that palm is parallel to floor, hand and wrist bent up or down.

Neutral Torso Position

Goal: Torso in line with the long axis of the body. Avoid: Leaning torso to one side, twisting the torso.

Neutral Upper Arm Position

Goal: Upper arms hand parallel to the long axis of the torso, elbows at waist level held slightly away from the body. Avoid: Greater than 20 degrees of elbow abduction away from the body, elbows half above waist level.