Cervical And Thoracic Spine Flashcards
Neck pain with mobility deficits:
Indicators, tests, interventions
Indicators: decreased ROM, unilateral neck pain, referred upper extremity pain; Acute onset Sx Segmental mobility C2-T4 has good intra-rater reliability
Interventions: manipulation cervical/thoracic, stretching, coronation strengthening and endurance exercises
–> thrust + exercise is BETTER than either alone
Neck pain with mobility deficits:
Indicators, tests, interventions
Indicators: decreased ROM, unilateral neck pain, referred upper extremity pain
Tests: pain at END RANGE (A/PROM), restricted mobility, upper extremity pain reproduced with provocation of involved cervical segments
–>Segmental mobility C2-T4 has good intra-rater reliability
Interventions: manipulation cervical/thoracic, stretching, coronation strengthening and endurance exercises
–> thrust + exercise is BETTER than either alone
Neck pain with movement coordination impairments
Symptoms, impairments, interventions
Symptoms: Neck pain associated with preferred upper extremity pain, symptoms linked to trauma/whiplash; pain >12 weeks (chronic)
Impairments: strength endurance coordination deficits of DNF muscles, neck pain with mid range motion increased at end range, neck/upper extremity pain increased with motion testing, cervical instability
Interventions: coordination strengthening endurance exercises, patient education/counseling, stretching
- ->CCF endurance and high level str training with elastic band both shown to be effective
- ->TENS + exercise effective
Cervical spine Canadian fracture rules
Age greater than 65, dangerous mechanism of injury, paresthesias in upper extremity
Simple Rear MVA, sitting, walking, delayed onset, negative cervical midline tenderness
Cervical rotation greater than 45°
Neck pain with radiating pain
Symptoms impairments interventions
Symptoms: neck pain associated with radiating pain in UE, UE paresthesias
Impairments: (NOTE: See Wainner CPR card) radiating pain reproduced with Sperling’s test and upper limb tension tests, relieved with cervical distraction, may have a upper extremity a sensory strength reflex deficits, Decreased rotation (<60) toward involve side, signs of nerve root compression
Intervention: nerve mobilizations, traction, thoracic mobilization
Clinical prediction row for cervical manipulation for neck pain
NDI less than 11.5
Bilateral involvement pattern
Not performing sedentary work more than five hours per day
Feeling better well moving neck
Did not feel worse while extending neck
Diagnosis of spondylosis without radiculopathy
Four or more increased probability of success from 60 to 89%
Cervical spine Canadian fracture rules (stupid canadians)
FIRST: Age greater than 65, dangerous mechanism of injury, paresthesias in upper extremity**if Y to ANY need xray
–>Dangerous MOI: Fall >1 m, MVA >100km/hr, rollover/ejection, bicycle/MVA
SECOND: Low risk criteria: Simple Rear MVA, seated in ER, walking, delayed onset Sx, negative cervical midline tendernessif ANY present, assess c-spine ROM:
–>Cervical rotation greater than 45°if Y no xray if NO xray
Risk factors and level recommendation for neck pain
Recommendation level B: consider age greater than 40, coexisting low back pain, long history of neck pain, cycling as regular activity, loss of strength in hands, worrisome attitude, poor quality of life, and less vitality
Clinical prediction rule for thoracic mobilization with neck pain (Cleland 2007)
Symptom duration less than 30 days No symptoms distal to shoulder Looking up does not aggravate symptoms FABQ less than 12 Diminished thoracic spine kyphosis Cervical extension less than 30°
> 3 variables +LR 5.5
Neck pain intervention recommendation levels
Cervical mobilization – A Thiracic mobilization – B stretching – C coronation strengthening endurance- A centralization – C nerve mobilization – B Traction – B patient education – A
For indicators to rule out cancer in cervical spine
Less than 50 years old
No history of cancer
Improves over one month
No unexplained weight loss
Sensitivity 1.0
Clinical prediction rule for Cervical spine traction
Peripheralization with C4-7 mobility testing
Positive shoulder abduction sign (Bakody Sign)
Age greater than 55
Positive nerve tension test
Relief with minimal distraction
Three out of five increased likelihood of success from 44 to 79.2%,
4 out of five increased likelihood to 90.2%
Sensitivity and specificity of sharp-purser test
Specificity .96, sensitivity .69
Vertebra basilar vascular insufficiency Symptoms
Vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness, visual perceptual disturbances, fainting, facial numbness, ataxia, diplopia
Craniocervical flexion test guidelines
Five increments: 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 mmHg
Minimize SCM activation and hold tongue on roof of mouth
Abnormal response: – Unable to generate pressure at least six mmHg – Unable to hold pressure for 10 seconds – Superficial neck muscles engage – Sudden movement of chin
Deep neck flexor endurance test norms
Without neck pain – 38.95 seconds, with neck pain– 24.1 seconds
Cervical radiculopathy: Median nerve tension test, Spurling test, distraction test, Valsalva maneuver
And cluster
sensitivity specificity
Median: sensitivity .97, specificity .22
Spurling: sensitivity .50 specificity .90
Distraction: sensitivity .44 specificity .90
Cluster with cervical rotation less than 60°: sensitivity .24, specificity .99
Valsalva: sensitivity .22 specificity .94
C-5 nerve root testing and cervical radiculopathy
If diminished or absent chance of having cervical radiculopathy increases from 23 to 59%
*Biceps DTR: very specific 95%
Cervical radiculopathy: four variables that determine success of treatment
– Ageless and 54 years
– Non-dominant arm affected
– Looking down does not worsen symptoms
– Multimodal treatment
Four out of four increases success to 90.4%
Hoffman 5 item criteria for low probability of cervical injury
No midline tenderness, no focal neurologic deficit, normal alertness, no intoxication, no painful distracting injury
Thoracic outlet syndrome test.
Cluster for Sp and Sn
specificity and sensitivity
Adson’s vascular test – specificity 1.0 for pain, .894 vascular changes, .89 for paresthesias
Costoclavicular test – specificity 1.0 for pain, .89 for vascular changes .85 parehesias
Median nerve tension test – sensitivity .97, specificity .22
Radial nerve tension test – sensitivity .72, specificity .33
Cluster of two provocative test: sensitivity .90
Cluster of five provocative tests: specificity .84
Thoracic spine critical zone and reasoning
T4 through T9
Small diameter spinal canal and reduce blood supply
Subcostal nerve impingement and implications
Impingement in the thoracic/lumbar junction may lead to pain in hip region
Signs and symptoms symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
Stiffness greater than 30 minutes duration, improvement in back pain with exercise but not with rest, awakening because of back pain during the second half of night only, alternating buttock pain
Signs and symptoms of T4 syndrome
-Intervention:
Headaches, neck pain, upper extremity pain, bilateral stocking glove paresthesias
- Neurovascular Sx NOT a feature
- More women affected than men
- Intervention: mobilization and manipulation of involved segments followed by exercise
First rib test with cervical rotation lateral flexion
Cervical spine maximally rotated away from side being tested
Cervical spine then side bent towards tested side
Positive test: blocking of side bending from elevated first rib on site being tested
Good intra/interrater reliability
C-Spine motion
C0-1: 10-15 deg F/E, 8 deg SB; minimal rotation
C1-2: 10 deg F/E; 45 deg rotation; minimal/no SB
C3-7: 64 deg F 24 deg E; 40 deg SB and rotation
C-Spine facet orientation, innervation, and % load bearing
45 deg to sagittal
- innervated by dorsal rami
- bear 9-25% load; if spine arthritic facets may bear 50% of load
Functional ROM needed in c-spine
65-70 deg rotation and F/E
- Tying shoes: 67 deg flexion
- turning head while driving: 68 deg
- crossing street 85 deg rotation
C-spine Arthrokinematics:
- upper c-spine: opposite in neutral (type 1) same in non–neutral (type II)
- Lower c-spine: neutral same, flexion same, extension opposite
**Monograph and texts conflicting: say no proven arthrokinematics