Cervical Spine and Lumbar Spine Flashcards
What are the components of the functional unit of the spine?
What will the common chief complaints for cervical spine?
7
- Posterior neck pain
- Upper trap/ shoulder pain
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Weakness
- Alterations in fine motor control
- Numbness: Very specific or VERY generalized
- Too much to drink?: Ataxic gait
Observation
Always pay attention to the patient’s movements and actions
4
- General appearance
- Abnormal pain behaviors
- Mood and affect
- Gait
What should we palpate for cervical spine PE? 3
- Cervical point tenderness
- Muscle spasms
- Lymphadenopathy
Range of Motion
To what degrees should you be able to do the following motions:
- Flexion?
- Extension?
- Lateral bending?
- Rotation?
- Flexion- 80-90
- Extension- 70
- Lateral bending- 20-45
- Rotation- 70-90
What do the following areas test for:
- C5?
- C6?
- C7?
- C8?
- T1?
- C5- Lateral upper arm
- C6- Lateral forearm
- C7- Middle finger
- C8- Ulnar border of hand
- T1- Medial upper arm
Describe grades 0-5 for muscle strength?
Muscle Strength
- What muscle and nerve root are involved in abduction of the shoulder?
- Elbow flexion?
- What nerves are involved in wrist extension? 2
- Nerves in wrist flexors?
- What muscle and nerve root are involved iin elbow extension?
- What nerve is involved in finger extension?
- Nerve in finger flexion?
- Nerve in intrinsics?
- Deltoids (C5)- Abduction of shoulder
- Biceps (C5,C6)- Elbow flexion
- Wrist extension (C6,C7)
- Wrist flexors (C7)
- Triceps (C7)- Elbow extension
- Finger extension (C7)
- Finger flexion (C8)
- Intrinsics (T1)
Special tests for cervical spine issues?
3
- Axial loading
- Foraminal Compression Test (Spurling’s)
- Hoffman’s Reflex
positive Hoffman’s reflex reflects presence of what?
an upper motor neuron lesion from spinal cord compression
What are the following reflexes:
- C5?
- C6?
- C7?
Biceps
C5
Brachioradialis
C6
Triceps
C7
Describe the following deformities?
ROM exercises in cervical movements?
5
Lumbar spine pain DDx?
5
- Back pain
- Buttock pain
- Leg pain
- Weakness
- Numbness/tingling
Observation: Lumbar spine
Always pay attention to the patient’s movements and actions
3
- General appearance
- Abnormal pain behaviors
- Mood and affect