1. Biomechanics of Lumbar and Thoracic Spine

Question 1

How is side bending and rotation named?

Answer 1

Side bending = concavity

Rotation = anterior -superior rotation of vertebral body

Question 2

What is the Rule of Three’s for Spinous Processes of Thoracics?

Answer 2

T1-T3: directly posterior
T4-T6: Halfway between that level and the one below
T7-T9: At the level of the body one segment below
T10: Same as T7-T9
T11: Same as T4-T6
T12: Same as T1-T3

Question 3

Where is the spine of scapula? Where are the transverse processes?

Answer 3

T3: Straight Across

Question 4

Where is the inferior border of the scapula? Where are the transverse process of this vertebra?

Answer 4

T7: T6

Question 5

What is Fryette’s First Principle of Spinal motion? What type of mechanics is this? How many segments does it use?

Answer 5

In neutral position, rotation and side-bending will occur to OPPOSITE sides.

Type 1 Mechanics: involving 3 or more segments or vertebrae.

Question 6

What is the cause of a Type I Mechanic dysfunction? What muscles hold this dysfunction in space.

Answer 6

Caused by postural reasons.

The long restrictor muscles (I love spaghetti muscles) hold these into place.

Question 7

What is Fryette’s Second Principle of Spinal motion? What type of mechanics is this? How many segments does it use?

Answer 7

In hyper-flexion or hyper-extension, rotation and side-bending occur to the SAME side.

Type II Mechanics/ Non-neutral; only 1-2 vertebrae dysfunction

Question 8

What is the cause of a Type II Mechanic dysfunction? What muscles hold this dysfunction in space.

Answer 8

Caused by Trauma!

Held together by short restrictor muscles (transverspinalis-rotares, interspinales, and intertransverarii)

Question 9

TQ: What is Fryette’s Third Principle of Spinal Motion? What OMM technique is this the principle basis of?

Answer 9

Inducing motion in one plane limits/restricts motion in the other planes.

Principle of HVLA

Question 10

What are the assumptions of Fryette’s principles?

Answer 10

• Normal motion is assumed
• Dysfunction can happen in any combination
• The majority of somatic dysfunctions follow Fryette’s Principles.

Question 11

What are the guidelines for segemental motion testing?

Answer 11

Test in Neutral, flexion (fold-up/forward bending), and extension (sphinx/TV/backward bending) to find problem.

Question 12

If a segments gets better both in forward and backward or no change in either, what type of dysfunction do you have?

Answer 12

a neutral dysfunction.

Question 13

If a segments gets worse in forward and better in backward, what type of dysfunction do you have?

Answer 13

extension dysfunction

Question 14

If a segments gets worse in backward and better in forward, what type of dysfunction do you have?

Answer 14

flexion dysfunction

Question 15

How do you name somatic dysfunctions in terms of position?

Answer 15

By where you find them living (their freedom of motion).

Question 16

If you are assessing T8, with the transverse process prominent on the right, it gets worse in sphinx position, better in fold up position. What do you have? Write what you would see on a chart.

Answer 16

T8 FRrSr

Question 17

If you are assessing L3, with the transverse process prominent on the left, and there is no change in sphinx or fold-up positions. What do you have? Write what you would see on a chart.

Answer 17

L3 NRlSr