Back Problems Flashcards
how common is back pain
80% of adults will experience at least one episode
- New cases added each year - around 1-4% of the population
- 1:10 have some degree of chronic back pain
- Cases have doubled over last 40 years
How much does the NHS spend on back problems
NHS spends more that £1 billion a year on back pain related costs
- £512 million on hospital costs
- £141 million GP consultations
- £151 million physiotherapy
Private health care cost in addition to NHS = £565 million
how much does back pain relate to gross national product
Total costs = 1- 2% gross national product
how many working days are lost because of back pain
5 million working days lost because of back pain
- On any day 1% of working population is off work
what shape is the spinal cord
S shape
what are the two development curves in the spinal cord
- primary and secondary
when are primary and secondary curves formed
Primary = in utero Secondary = post fatally when you sit up and stand
What is kyphosis
increased thoracic curvature
- also have kyphosis in the sacral region but the sacrum is fused so it does not move
What usually causes kyphosis
Erosion/fracture of anterior part of one or more vertebrae
what are abnormal curves due to
- developmental anomalies or pathological conditions
how do you treat a kyphosis
Kyphoplasty (vertebroplasty, vertebral augmentation)
- treatment for a collapsed vertebra
- insert a balloon
- and then fill with a support cast
What are the benefits of a kyphoplasty
- safe
- highly effective at providing pain relief
- highly effective at preventing further collapse
What is another name for adolescent kyphosis
Sheuermann’s disease
what are the symptoms of adolescent kyphosis/sheuermann’s disease
Pain
difficulty breathing - trapping of the spinal nerve roots as they exit going to the intercostals
what happens in adolescent kyphosis
- Epiphyseal growth plates of vertebral bodies are affected in one or more thoracic vertebrae
- Schmorl’s nodes - these are protrusions of nucleus pulpous through the endplate into the vertebral body
What vertebra are commonly affected by adolescent kyphosis/sheuermann’s disease
T4-T6
How do you treat adolescent kyphosis/sheuermann’s disease
- place into a brace - brace supports and straightens to keep the verbtra aligned
- surgery if there is a large curve
- Kyphoplasty (vertebroplasty, vertebral augmentation)
What is the two lordosis in the spine
- cervical and lumbar
- usually talking about the lumbar region
- secondary curve
What is a lordosis
anterior rotation of pelvis produces increased lumbar curvature
What is a lordosis associated with
Associated with weakened trunk muscles. - so the core muscles
Can develop in late pregnancy or with obesity as you are carrying more weight anterior to the vertebral column - goes back after pregnancy or if you loose the weight
Or weakened hip flexors - ilopsoas - on anterior side as you have more pull on the pelvis that you have from the front
What are the symptoms of lordosis
Back ache
Sciatica - trapping the nerve roots, the intervertebral foramen are small for the size of the nerve roots that exit the lumbar region therefore can trap the nerve roots that go into the sciatic nerves
in a lordisos where is the weight shifted
Vertebral bodies designed for weight bearing but now weight is shifted onto posterior elements therefore the intervertebral disc is squished and this again reduces the size of the intervertrbal foramen
What is psoas dysunfcton
Chronic psoas shortening and weakness that leads to a lordosis
What is shortened in a psoasa dysfunction
Shortening of the thoraco-lumbar fascia and erector spinae muscles
psoas shortening and weakness
Stretching and weakness of abdominal muscles
Hamstring and gluteal muscles tightened and often hypertonic
How do you treat a psoas dysunfcton
stretching the psoas will relieve the tension as well as stretching the hamstrings
What muscles causes flat back syndrome
Tight musculature between ribs makes breathing shallow
Hamstrings tight therefore the knees flexed
Hip flexors weak – hip flexed (gravity)
what is flat back syndrome
Pelvis tilts backwards pulls vertebral column flat
what conditions cause flat back syndrome
Ankylosing spondylitis,
degenerative disc,
spinal fusion