National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Practice Exam

How can you determine if a client does not have lateral curvature of the cervical spine?

1. By checking shoulder height

2. By examining ear lobe alignment

3. By assessing head tilt

4. By measuring neck flexibility

The correct answer is: By examining ear lobe alignment

The alignment of the ear lobes serves as a useful indicator for assessing lateral curvature of the cervical spine. In a healthy spine without lateral curvature, the ear lobes should be aligned vertically with the shoulders and the midline of the body. When lateral curvature is present, the ear lobes may be positioned unevenly, indicating a potential issue with spinal alignment. While checking shoulder height, assessing head tilt, and measuring neck flexibility can provide valuable information about a client's posture and overall musculoskeletal health, they do not specifically target the cervical spine's lateral curvature. Shoulder height might indicate scoliosis or uneven shoulders, head tilt can suggest muscular imbalances or tension, and measuring neck flexibility could reflect tightness or range of motion issues. However, none of these methods directly assess the alignment of the cervical spine as effectively as examining ear lobe alignment does. Thus, evaluating the symmetry of the ear lobes offers a clear and focused approach to determining the absence of lateral curvature in the cervical region.