Cervical spine assessment · Zenith Upper Cervical Chiropractic
Now you can see exactly how your neck is functioning.
The NeckCare System is a clinical-grade assessment tool that measures three key aspects of cervical spine function with objective data, visual reports, and comparison to healthy norms.
Dr. Stenberg uses it at every evaluation so patients understand what is happening and can track real change over time.
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Backed by over 20 years of peer-reviewed cervical spine research
Why Objective Testing Matters
Feeling better is a start. Knowing why is the point.
Most cervical spine evaluations rely on two things: how a patient describes their pain, and how the neck looks on an X-ray or MRI. Both are useful. But neither tells the full story of how the cervical spine is actually functioning day to day.
Pain levels fluctuate based on sleep, stress, and activity. Imaging shows structure, not function. A patient can look fine on a scan and still have significant deficits in how their neck moves, how accurately it senses position in space, or how well it coordinates with the eyes and nervous system.
Those functional deficits are often what drive chronic symptoms. And without measuring them directly, it is difficult to know whether treatment is producing real neurological change or simply making someone feel temporarily better.
What imaging shows
Structure: bone position, disc space, joint alignment. A snapshot of anatomy, not function.
What pain scores show
How someone feels on a given day. Useful but highly variable and subjective.
What NeckCare shows
How the cervical spine actually moves, senses position, and coordinates with the nervous system. Measured in degrees and milliseconds.
Why the difference matters
Functional deficits can persist long after pain fades, and can be present even when imaging looks normal. NeckCare finds them.
"Imaging shows where bones sit. Pain scores reflect how someone feels on a given day. Neither one tells you whether the neck's position sense, movement accuracy, or sensorimotor coordination are functioning correctly. That is what NeckCare measures."
- Dr. John Stenburg
Why Neck Care Matters
Three tests. A complete picture of cervical spine function.
The NeckCare System uses a wireless head-mounted sensor to run three standardized assessments, each targeting a different aspect of how the cervical spine works. Together they provide a level of clinical detail that no manual exam or imaging study can replicate on its own.
- Range of Motion
Cervical Range of Motion
Measures how far your neck moves in all six directions: flexion, extension, left and right rotation, and left and right lateral flexion. The sensor captures data at over 120 positional points per second, producing precise degree measurements rather than a clinician's visual estimate.
Restriction on one side, movement that drops off at a certain angle, or asymmetry between left and right all become visible in the report. The assessment takes less than two minutes.
- Proprioception
Joint Position Error Test
Assesses proprioception, the neck's ability to accurately sense where it is in space. You close your eyes, move your head to a target position, then attempt to return precisely to neutral.
The gap between where you think neutral is and where it actually is tells Dr. Stenberg a great deal about how well the cervical mechanoreceptors, the nerve receptors responsible for position sense, are functioning. Proprioceptive deficits are strongly associated with chronic neck pain, dizziness, and poor postural control.
- Sensorimotor Control
The Butterfly Test
Evaluates sensorimotor integration: the coordinated communication between your eyes, your neck, and your nervous system. You wear the sensor and follow a moving visual target by moving your head in sync with it. The device measures accuracy, smoothness, and response time.
Poor sensorimotor integration is linked to dizziness, balance problems, delayed reaction, and difficulty with activities that require coordinated head and eye movement. This test is particularly relevant for patients with vertigo, post-concussion symptoms, or a history of whiplash.
- What the comparison data means for you
Results are compared against normative data from healthy populations, so Dr. Stenberg can show you not just how your neck is functioning, but how it compares to what healthy function actually looks like for your age group.
What Patients Experience
What happens during a NeckCare evaluation
The assessment is straightforward and takes approximately 15-20 minutes from start to finish. There is no discomfort involved. Most patients describe the experience as eye-opening, particularly those who have been dealing with symptoms for a long time without a clear structural explanation.
1.) You put on the lightweight head sensor
The wireless NeckCare device sits comfortably on your head and connects to the assessment software. No wires, no discomfort, no preparation required.
2.) Each of the three tests is run in sequence
Range of motion, joint position error, and the Butterfly Test are each performed with clear instructions. The system captures data automatically throughout.
3.) A visual report is generated immediately
Results are displayed as charts and graphics that compare your findings to normative data. Dr. Stenberg walks through the report with you so you understand what each measurement means in plain language.
4.) Results inform your care plan directly
The findings are used alongside your imaging and clinical history to build a care plan that is specific to your actual deficits, not a generalized protocol. Progress is tracked by repeating the assessment at key milestones.
Relevant Conditions
NeckCare assessment is particularly valuable for patients dealing with the following
The three tests measure function that is directly affected by many of the conditions Dr. Stenberg treats. In each case, objective data adds a layer of clinical clarity that is not available through imaging or symptom reporting alone.
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Post-concussion symptoms
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Forward head posture
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Balance/coordination problems
For vertigo and dizziness patients in particular, the Joint Position Error and Butterfly Test provide data that directly reflects the type of neurological dysfunction that upper cervical misalignment can produce.
Seeing those deficits on a visual report, and then watching them improve over the course of care, is a powerful confirmation that treatment is producing real change.
Watch Our Amazing Patient Testimonials
Find out if your neck is the Problem
Most patients have never had this level of detail about their own neck function. The NeckCare evaluation gives you a clear picture of where deficits exist and a measurable baseline to track real progress against. It starts with a free phone consultation.
Free phone consultation available first. No obligation to proceed.