Neural mobilisation of the facial & cranial nerves

This work is under construction and is currently incomplete.

Greater Occipital Nerve (GON) mobilisation

Trigeminocervical mobilisation (1)

Trigeminocervical mobilisation (2)

Mobilisation procedure:

1. Upper cervical flexion: increased tension in the dorsal meninges, cranial nerves and blood vessels in the dorsolateral and midlateral part of the brain stem.

2. Upper cervical contralateral flexion: mechanical loading of the trigeminal nerve at the brain stem.

3. Contralateral glide of the mandible: tension in the auriculotemporal nerve, the inferior alveolar nerve and the lingual nerve.

4. Opening of the mouth: tension in the inferior alveolar nerve.

Reference: von Piekartz H, Coppieters M, De Weerdt W (2002). A Proposed Neurodynamic test of the Mandibular Nerve. Reliability and Reference Values. Published in Manuelle Therapie, June 2002, Thieme

Supraorbital nerve (V1) mobilisation

Opening the mouth would theoretically create tension in the trigeminal nerve as it places a stretch on the inferior alveolar branch (<mental nerve) (V3).

Auriculotemporal nerve (V3) mobilisiation

Facial nerve mobilisation

Could this procedure be effective by mobilising the posterior auricular nerve (VII)?

Vagus nerve mobilisation

Upper cervical flexion and contralateral lateral flexion: loads the intracranial part of the nerve.

Ipsilateral neck rotation: loads the cervical tract.

Gently pushing the upper abdomen in a caudal and then cephalic direction: loads and unloads the thoracic tract.