Cervical Spine - Examination & Interventions Flashcards
Where in the C spine is the normal lordotic curve?
C4-5 interspace
What does an __ amount of lordosis cause in the c-spine?
- Increased
- Decreased
- Inc: more load on facet joints
- Dec: more load on the vertebral bodies and discs
When should you consider doing vertebral artery testing?
- Hx of trauma
- Nausea w/neck motion
- dizziness
- syncope
What is the main supporting ligament of the AA & what does it restrict?
Transverse ligament & excessive flexion
What is the alar ligament?
Connects C2 to occiput & limits SB and rotation of the occiput
What tests are for the transverse ligament?
- Transverse Ligament Test
- Sharp Pursers
Which symptoms may indicate it is more Vertebral Artery than Vestibular?
- double vision
- slurred speech
- chagnes in mental status, including confusion or anxiety
- loss of vision in one or both eyes
- sudden, severe weakness throughout the body
For cervical vs thoracic, after stabilization if pain remains for all motions, where is it coming from?
Thoracic
What is the muscle action of the anterior/middle scalenes
Flexion, IPSI SB, CL rot
What does the craniocervical flexion test measure?
- the strategy to perform upper cervical flexion (MC)
- Isometric endurance of deep cervical flexors
What does the neck flexor endurance test test?
- superficial cervical muscles and control of deep cervical flexors
What is the craniocervical flexion test?
Use of a stabilizer (starting at 20 mmHg) under the neck to assess deep cervical flexors
How do you grade reflexes?
0 - absent
1- diminished
2 - normal
3 - brisk
4 - clonus
What is the TIC for cervical radiculopathy?
- Spurlings Test
- Upper Limb Neural Tension Test 1
- Distraction Test
- 60 degrees of rotation
What is the purpose of the active intervertebral closure test?
- Rule out or confirm nerve root compression in the cervical spine
What other tests, besides the TIC, are used to rule in/out nerve compression/radiculopathy
- Active Intervertebral Closure Test
- Shoulder Abduction Test
- Doorbell test
What is a positive test results for the Shoulder Abduction Test?
- reduction of symptoms in that position
What test is done for 1st rib mobility?
Cervical Rotation lateral Flexion Test (CRLF)
What tests are done for thoracic outlet testing?
- Roos Test
- Costoclavicular Syndrome Test
- Modified Wright Test (allen maneuver)
- Adson Maneuver
What PROM/Jt play exams are for the upper cervical spine?
- OA Motion screen
- OA Coupled rotation screen
- OA Coupled rotation joint play
- AA Joint motion screen –> Cervical Flexion Rotation Test
- AA Joint play
With an AA Joint Restriction, what happens to the axis of motion? What does this mean?
- It moves to the restricted facet joint
- You have to push and pull at the same time to properly mobilize it
What does segmental side bending tell you?
It demonstrates where a restriction may be in the lower cervical spine
