Cervical Illness Scripts Flashcards
Epidemiology for cervical spondylosis
- > 50 years old
- Men affected more than women
- Risk factors: sedentary lifestyle, smoking, repetitive motion/trauma to neck
Epidemiology for cervical radiculopathy
- Most common b/w 40-60 years old
- Men more affected then women
- Risk factors: smoking and strenuous activities
Timing of symptoms for cervical spondylosis
- Early: mild/intermittent neck pain & stiffness, HA, decreased rotation ROM (dysfunction -> instability -> stabilization)
- Later: can lead to nerve compression & instability of cervical spine resulting in pain, parasthesia, weakness; common age-related change; often asymptomatic
Timing of symptoms for cervical radiculopathy
- Early: Irradiating arm pain corresponding to a dermatomal pattern, neck pain, parasthesia, muscle weakness in a myotomal pattern
- Later: Reflex impairment/loss, HA, scapular pain, sensory & motor dysfunction in UEs & neck
Symptoms of cervical spondylosis and painful activities
- Pain: HA, neck, shoulder, may affect dermatome if nerve roots are involved
- Could be tender in neck/along boney prominences
- Activities: C spine movement of extension, rotation (movements that decrease foramina space), maintaining head posture for long bouts of time
Keys parts for examination of cervical spondylosis
- MMTs: neck/shoulder may be pain limited & may demo decreased MMT if nerves are compressed
- Facet changes leading to boney block
- ROM limited over time
- Distinguishing features: changes in vertebral body articulations
- Key rejecting features: presence of neurological Sx/unrelenting pain
- Special tests: Spurlings, ULTT-A, & cervical rotation
Symptoms of cervical radiculopathy and painful activities
- Pain: along dermatomal pattern affected, neck, & possible HA
- Could be tender in the neck
- Activities: Symptoms are generally amplified with movements that may be unidirectional or multidirectional reduce the space available for the nerve root to exit the foramen causing impingement
- Pain is NOT relieved by rest
Keys parts for examination of cervical radiculopathy
- MMTs: Could be weaker due to nerve compression
- Could involve bone spurs or degenerative changes in the spine
- ROM could be limited due to stretching of the nerve
- Distinguishing features: relief upon distraction
- Key rejecting features: no relief upon distraction
- Special tests: (Cervical CPG) Spurlings, ULLT-A, distraction, cervical rotation <60º
PT management for cervical spondylosis
- Postural awareness education
- Cervical manual therapy
- Isometric exercises
- Cervical muscle strength/endurance training
- Nerve glides if radicular symptoms
PT management for cervical radiculopathy
- PROM
- Manual therapy
- Stretching exercises in comfortable range
- Isometric exercises
- Nerve glides/tensioners
- Cervical muscle strength/endurance training with minimal pain
- Increase ROM in stretching exercises
Epidemiology for cervical muscle strain
- Most common in midlife
- Females affected more than males
- Risk factors: over use (work or activity), injury (whiplash), diseases (OA, RA)
Epidemiology for vasculopathy (Carotid Dissection) SERIOUS
- Common cause of stroke I young patients, median age is mid 40s
- Slightly more common in men
- Risk factors: seasonal variation in BP, air pollution, migraine
Timing of symptoms for cervical muscle strain
- Early: pain in limited or all ranges of C-spine
- Later: limited ROM, strength/endurance due to (d/t) limited use of muscles
Timing of symptoms for vasculopathy (carotid dissection) SERIOUS
- Early: acute pain onset described as “unlike any other”, mid-upper cervical pain, p! around ear & jaw temporoparietal HA ptosis cranial nerve VIII-XII dysfunction
- Later: transient retinal dysfunction, DAN s/s, transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident
Symptoms of cervical muscle strain & painful activities
- Pain: posterior & lateral neck, pain with palpation
- Pain is relieved by rest
- Activities: cervical flexion, extension, rotation, sidebending
Symptoms of vasculopathy (carotid dissection ) SERIOUS and painful activities
- Pain: ipsilateral HA, facial or eye pain, & anterior neck pain
- May be painful to palpate (many don’t present with mechanical triggers)
- Pain is NOT relieved by rest
- Activities: not specific, more constant pain
Keys parts for examination of cervical muscle strain
- MMT: trapezius, levator scapula, SCM, semispinalis, splenius
- ROM: limited
- Key distinguishing features: pain & stiffness in neck, decreased ROM, weakness/numbness/tingling, HA, spasms
- Key rejecting features: pain does NOT worsen with movement, imaging
Keys parts for examination of vasculopathy (carotid dissection ) SERIOUS
- MMT: facial muscles, scalp, suboccipitals, anterior neck (SCM, scalenes, hyoids)
- Internal carotid artery is involved
- ROM: possibly limited d/t whiplash MOI or pain in certain motion
- Key distinguishing features: pain in jaw/neck, HA, dizziness, Horner’s Syndrome, DAN s/s
- Key rejecting features: no Horner’s s/s or abnormal function of eye(s), underproduced by Hautaunt’s/deKlyn’s/AROM testing, but can be positive later***
Special tests for cervical muscle strain
- Spasm palpation
- ROM: flexion, extension, & rotation
- MRI/US
Special tests for vasculopathy (carotid dissection) SERIOUS
- AROM: ipsilateral rotation, extension, & ipsilateral sidebend
- deKlyn’s test (supine)
- Hautaunt’s test (sitting & arms out)
- Premanipulation holds tests (if positive refer to Doppler US or imaging)
PT management for cervical muscle strain
- Patient education & counseling
- Activity avoidance
- Therapeutic modalities
- Stretching
- Working from limited pain-free ROM towards PLOF AROM
- Posture education
PT management for vasculopathy (carotid dissection) SERIOUS
- Refer to ED for medication/imaging & possible surgical intervention
- Motor control training & education to prevent extreme end ROM
Epidemiology for cervical tension HA
- Mostly 30-45 years old
- Females and males are almost equally affected
Timing of symptoms of cervical tension HA
- Early: combination of unilateral pain, ipsilateral diffuse shoulder & arm pain
- Later: pain lasts longer & becomes more chronic
Symptoms of cervical tension HA and painful activities
- Pain: unilateral “ram’s horn” or unilateral dominant HA usually originating from C1-C3
- Pain with palpation
- Pain is NOT relieved by rest
- Activities: neck movement & posture (driving, typing at a computer)
Key parts for examination of cervical tension HA
- MMT: neck muscles
- ROM: limited
- Key distinguishing features: pain localized in the neck & occiput which can spread to other areas in the head (forehead, orbital region, temples, vertex, or ears), usually unilateral
Epidemiology for closed head injury/bleed
- Mostly 30-50 years old
- Males are more affected than females
Timing of symptoms for closed head injury/bleed
- Early: Focal neurological signs depending on what area of the brain is affected including hemiparesis, speech impairment, sensory impairment, cranial nerve palsy, vomiting, ataxia, headache, and seizures
- Later: More likely to present with nonfocal sx such as headache, lightheadedness, cognitive impairment, apathy or depression, parkinsonism, somnolence, and seizures