3.2. Thoracolumbar Subjective Flashcards
T OR F: Diagnosing pain due to a disc is primarily diagnosis of inclusion.
FALSE
diagnosis of EXCLUSION
Most of the examination commonly revolves around differentiating symptoms of _____ (2), which refers radicular symptoms into the leg from other conditions more likely to cause localized pain
herniated disc or space-occupying lesion
If there are no radicular symptoms below the (1) ____, it often becomes difficult for the examiner to determine where in the spine the problem is, or whether the problem is truly in the lumbar spine or coming from problems in the pelvic joints, primarily the (2)_____.
BELOW the KNEE
pelvic joints: SI Joints or Hips
Only about ____% of cases can a definitive diagnosis as to the pathology of back pain be made.
15%
What are the 2 main categories of LBP?
Back pain dominant/ Mechanical cause
Leg pain dominant/ Nonmechanical cause
pattern of LBP that suggests disc involvement, sprain, strain
pattern 1 of back pain dominant
pattern of LBP that suggests facet joint involvements, strain
pattern 2 of back pain dominant
pattern of LBP that suggests nerve root irritation, primarily by a disc or some other space-occupying lesion or an injury accompanied by inflammatory swelling
pattern 3 of leg pain dominant
pattern of LBP that suggests neurogenic intermittent claudication/pressure on the cauda equina
pattern 4 of leg pain dominant
Age predisposition for Scheuermann’s disease
13-16 y/o
Age predisposition for Idiopathic scoliosis
adolescent females
Age predisposition for lumbar disc problems
15-40 y/o
Age predisposition for ankylosing spondylitis
18-45 y/o
Age predisposition for spine osteoarthritis and spondylosis
> 45 y/o
Sex predisposition for ankylosing spondylitis
MALES
Age predisposition for spine malignancy
> 50 y/o
MOI for rib injuries
trauma
MOI for thoracic spine problems
disease processes (e.g., scoliosis) and may have an insidious onset
Sex predisposition for scoliosis & LBP
FEMALES
Female patients should be asked about any changes that occur with menstruation, such as altered pain patterns, irregular menses, and swelling of the abdomen or breasts
T OR F: Pain from true thoracic trauma tends to be diffused to the area of injury.
FALSE
Pain from true thoracic trauma tends to be LOCALIZED to the area of injury.
MOI for facet syndromes
present as stiffness and local pain, which can be referred
T OR F: Lifting commonly can cause LBP
TRUE
forces are exerted on lumbar spine & disc
T OR F: The force exerted on the disc can be calculated as roughly five times the weight being lifted.
FALSE
roughly as TEN TIMES the weight being lifted
Pressure on the disc can be decreased by increasing the _____ of the backrest
supported inclination
Using the ____ for support can also decrease the pressure on the disc
arms
When one is standing, the disc pressure is approximately ____ of the pressure that occurs in the relaxed sitting position.
35%
Lower back stress tends to be ______ (%) higher in ____ (men or women)
15% to 20%; men>women
because men are taller and their weight is distributed higher in the body
T OR F: Back pain tends to be more prevalent in people with strenuous occupations
TRUE
T OR F: Familial influences have an effect on back pain
TRUE
Patients who have chronic low back pain develop what syndrome?
deconditioning syndrome
Compounds chronic low back pain problems as it leads to decreased muscle strength, impaired motor control, and decreased coordination and postural control.
deconditioning syndrome
With thoracic disc lesions, (1) ____
movements do not often show the characteristic pain pattern, and (2)_____ deficits are difficult if not impossible to detect.
(1) ACTIVE movements
because of the rigidity of the thoracic spine
(2) SENSORY and STRENGTH deficits are difficult to detect
The examiner should remember that _____ structures may refer pain to the thoracic region
Abdominal structures:
stomach,
liver,
pancreas
What diseases usually cause pain that follows the path of the ribs or a deep, “through-the-chest” pain? (2)
Thoracic root involvement or spondylosis
Acute back pain lasts for?
3-4 weeks
Subacute back pain lasts for?
12 weeks
Chronic back pain lasts for?
> 3 months
Unilateral pain with no referral below the knee caused by injury to muscles (strain) or ligaments (sprain), the facet joint, or, in some cases, the sacroiliac joints
mechanical LBP
pain is moving toward or is centered in the lumbar spine
Centralization
implies the pain is being referred or is moving into the limb
Peripheralization
T OR F: Injuries in the lumbar spine ted to be peripheralized in the limbs.
FALSE
There is seldom if ever
peripheralization of the symptoms.
The symptoms tend to stay CENTRALIZED in the back.
T OR F: If the muscles and ligaments are affected, movement will decrease and pain will increase with repeated movements.
TRUE
Pain on standing that improves with ____ and pain on forward flexion with no substantial muscle tenderness suggests ____.
walking
disc involvement
T OR F: A minor disc injury (protrusion) will show pain when pain-provoking (stress) tests are used. The sacroiliac joints may show the same symptoms, but the pain is more likely to be bilateral if it is a central protrusion.
FALSE
The SI JOINTS will show pain when pain-provoking (stress) tests are used.
A MINOR DISC INJURY (PROTRUSION) may show the same symptoms, but the pain is more likely to be bilateral if it is a central protrusion.
Disc problems account for only about ___% of low back pain cases.
5%
The examiner must be careful when looking at the lumbar spine that he or she does not consider every back problem a disc problem