NEW LOWER PRICES - ACT FAST
Medicine (MD/DO)
/
Courses
/
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine by TrueLearn
/
Treatment Modalities
/
Zink's Common Compensatory Pattern

Master Zink's Common Compensatory Pattern with Picmonic for Medicine

With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.

DOWNLOAD PDF
Zink's Common Compensatory Pattern

Recommended Picmonics

picmonic thumbnail
Muscle Energy
picmonic thumbnail
Counterstrain Overview
picmonic thumbnail
High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude Thrust (HVLA)
picmonic thumbnail
Myofascial Release and Soft Tissue
picmonic thumbnail
Myofascial Trigger Points

Zink's Common Compensatory Pattern

Sargent Zink's Commoner Compensation Pattern
TrueLearn
While it has long been known that virtually all people have musculoskeletal asymmetry in one way or another; J. Gordon Zink was the first to document the preferences of fascia. Many osteopathic medical students become confused during this unit, but it is important to remember that this Picmonic refers to fascia only and that the rotations discussed here refer to translation of fascia and not vertebral rotation. There are four compensatory curves in the spine at the locations as follows: the occipitoatlantal junction, cervicothoracic junction, thoracolumbar junction, and the lumbosacral junction. Fascial asymmetry most commonly manifests in healthy people with a pattern referred to as Zink’s Common Compensatory Pattern. The Common Compensatory Pattern is rotated left at the occipitoatlantal zone, rotated right at the cervicothoracic zone, rotated left at the thoracolumbar zone, and rotated right at the lumbosacral zone. 80% of healthy individuals have the Common Compensatory Pattern, and 20% of healthy individuals have the Uncommon Compensatory Pattern. The Uncommon Compensatory Pattern is rotated right at the occipitoatlantal zone, rotated left at the cervicothoracic zone, rotated right at the thoracolumbar zone, and rotated left at the lumbosacral zone. Notice how the compensated patterns that are prominent in healthy people alter back and forth at the transitional zones. Patients who are hospitalized, or had recently experienced some trauma often do not have fascial patterns that alternate back and forth. This type of fascial pattern in which the fascia’s preference does not alternate while going through transitional zones is termed uncompensated.
7 KEY FACTS
TRANSITIONAL ZONES
Occipito-Atlantal
Octopus-Atlas

There are various transitional zones along the spine in which fascial preferences can shift one way or another. The most superior transitional zone is where the head meets the neck, also known as the occipito-atlantal junction (OA). The OA is most commonly shifted left in healthy individuals (80% of the time), and uncommonly can be shifted right (20%). The associated diaphragm is the tentorium cerebelli.

Cervico-Thoracic
Cervical-cat-Thor

The second most superior transitional zone is where the neck meets the thorax, also known as the cervicothoracic junction. This junction is most commonly shifted right in healthy individuals (80%), and shifted left uncommonly (20%). The associated diaphragm is Sibson’s fascia, which covers the thoracic inlet.

Thoraco-Lumbar
Thor-lumber

The second most inferior transitional zone is where the thorax turns into the lumbar spine, also known as the thoracolumbar junction. This junction is most commonly shifted left in healthy individuals (80%), and shifted right less commonly (20%). The associated diaphragm is the respiratory diaphragm.

Lumbo-Sacral
Lumber-sack-rum

The most inferior transitional zone is where the lumbar spine meets the sacrum. This is usually referred to as the lumbo-sacral junction, and in healthy people its fascia is most commonly shifted right and less commonly shifted left. The associated diaphragm is the pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor.

FASCIAL PATTERNS
Common Compensated
Commoner Compensation

This fascial pattern is the most common in the healthy populace; 80% of healthy individuals have the common compensatory pattern. In the common compensatory pattern, the fascia is rotated left at the occipitoatlantal zone, rotated right at the cervicothoracic zone, rotated left at the thoracolumbar zone, and rotated right at the lumbosacral zone.

Uncommon Compensated
Uncommoner Compensated

20% of healthy individuals have the uncommon compensatory pattern. The uncommon compensatory pattern is the opposite of the common compensatory pattern. It is characterized as rotated right at the occipitoatlantal zone, rotated left at the cervicothoracic zone, rotated right at the thoracolumbar zone, and rotated left at the lumbosacral zone.

Uncompensated
Uncompensated

Unhealthy individuals typically have uncompensated fascial patterns. Uncompensated generally means that each fascial zone does not alternate, rotated left or right from superior to inferior. An example of this would be if a patient’s fascia was rotated right in all four transitional zones. Uncompensated fascial patterns are common in hospitalized patients and trauma patients.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Take the Zink's Common Compensatory Pattern Quiz

Picmonic's rapid review multiple-choice quiz allows you to assess your knowledge.

It's worth every penny

Our Story Mnemonics Increase Mastery and Retention

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Ace Your Medicine (MD/DO) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:

Over 1,870,000 students use Picmonic’s picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.

Choose the #1 Medicine (MD/DO) student study app.

Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether you’re studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, we’re here to help.

Works better than traditional Medicine (MD/DO) flashcards.

Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.