Cervical Spine Rehab

Question 1

which part of the spine is susceptible to degeneration?

Answer 1

cervicals

Question 2

what is seen in 80% of asympomatic over age of 60?

Answer 2

DDD

Question 3

What can cause cervical degeneration?

Answer 3

repetitive movements, frequent moving through ranges (talking, listening, etc)

Question 4

why do optimal alignment and movement patterns reduce degenerative progress?

Answer 4

less poor mechanics

Question 5

how can we guard against wear and tear?

Answer 5

screening movement, patient education, show them they aren’t fragile

Question 6

causes of neck pain

Answer 6

discogenic bulges, herniations, annular tears
FACET
MYOFASCIAL strain, sprain
trauma (fracture, instability)
degenerative

Question 7

local (intrinsic) muscles are weakened or inhibited in what?

Answer 7

upper cross syndrome

Question 8

deep neck flexors

Answer 8

LONGUS CAPITIS
LONGUS COLI
RECTUS CAPITIS LATERALIS
RECTUS CAPITIS ANTERIOR
rectus capitis posterior major/minor
oblique capitis inferior/superior
semispinalis capitis
splenius capitis,
longissimus capitis
semispinalis cervicis
splenius cervicis
longissimus cervicis

Question 9

retraction

Answer 9

give yourself a double chin

Question 10

deep muscles do what?

Answer 10

control segments

Question 11

superficial muscles do what?

Answer 11

produce movement

Question 12

global (extrinsic) muscles are what in upper cross syndrome?

Answer 12

tight or facilitated

Question 13

what do the deep neck flexors do?

Answer 13

function more posturally than providing dynamic movement

Question 14

what can you do to reduce pain and disability?

Answer 14

neck exercises

Question 15

what do the intrinsic cervical muscles do during the flexion movement?

Answer 15

“rolling”

Question 16

examples of intrinsic muscles that “roll” during flexion

Answer 16

upper cervical (rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis)
lower cervical (longus capitis, longus colli)

Question 17

what do the intrinsic cervical muscles do during extension movemment?

Answer 17

rolling

Question 18

what muscles do the rolling motion for extension

Answer 18

upper cervical (rectus capitis posterior major/minor, obliquus capitis inferior/superior,, semispinalis capitis, spinalis capitis, longus capitis
lower cervical (splenius cervicis, longus cervicis, semispinalis cervicis

Question 19

cross syndrome

Answer 19

when muscle imbalances become inhibited and weak, while others become tight
causes inappropriate patterns of movement

Question 20

what muscles are tight in upper cross syndrome?

Answer 20

upper trap
levator scapula
pectoralis
SCM
suboccipitals
internal humeral rotators

Question 21

what muscles are weak in upper cross syndrome?

Answer 21

deep neck flexors

lower trap and serratus anterior

Question 22

what does longus coli do?

Answer 22

stiffens and stabilizes
supports curve against weight of head
can counteract buckline forces on cervical lordosis

Question 23

muscles that are facilitated commonly

Answer 23

SCM
suboccipitalis
levator scapula
upper trap
internal humerus rotators
pectoralis
elbow and wrist flexors
forearm pronators

Question 24

muscles that are inhibited commonly

Answer 24

deep neck flexors
lower and middl etrapezius
external humeral rotators
serratus anterior, shoulder/elbow, wrist extensors
forearm supinators

Question 25

cross syndrome isn’t isolated to the spine. what other places can the patient can experience pain?

Answer 25

headache
TMJ
neck and shoulder pain
TOS
rotator cuff syndrome
loss of cervical ROM
difficulty breathing

Question 26

common joint dysfunction in UE

Answer 26

sternoclavicular
AC
thoracic and cervical facet joints

Question 27

possible injuries of the UE

Answer 27

rotator cuff
shoulder intability
bicep tendonitis
TOS
headaches

Question 28

what do you do when assessing motor control patterns

Answer 28

must be pain free (or nearly) to assess
first manage acute pain or exacerbations of chronic conditions
then evaluate global vs local movement patterns