Functional Mobilization Upper Extremity Flashcards
Upper extremities Evaluation
- Cervical Rotation
- Upper T-spine Rotation
- First and second rib mobility
- Shoulder Abduction
- Shoulder Horizontal Adduction
- Shoulder Internal Rotation
- Testing of Automatic setting of humeral head
- Postural Evaluation/Vertical Compression Test
- Elbow Flexion test
- Upper Limb Neural Tension
- Disinhibition series
- Impact test
- Arm pull at side
- T1-2 flexion extension
Cervical Rotation
Lateral border of hand at A/C joint and fingertips on the posterior neck
- 1st point of contact (to 1st knuckle) = 70%
- Middle knuckle/2nd knuckle = 80%
- Proximal knuckle/3rd knuckle = 90%
- Chin touching hand 100%
70% from cs 30% from ts
Upper T-Spine Rotation
Palpate the spinous processes to access rotation (move opposite direction of the head)
a. Same level- noting the decree of motion that occurs during cervical rotation
b. Level above or below - note the amount of rotation occurring between thoracic levels
First and Second Rib mobility
- evaluate end feel of 1st ribs
- asses mobility with cervical motions (diagonal and side bending motions)
Efficient state, the rib drops inferiorly as the head moves towards it.
Repeat with 2nd rib
Shoulder Abduction
Efficient shoulder= close to 180 degrees AAROM abd with shoulder fixed in PD.
palm facing downward
evaluate range and quality of motion
Limitation indicates dysfunction of capsule, AC joint or neural tension
Arm heavier on dysfunctional side
Hypermobility end range
when feels like will move (excessive joint i.e. pt reports joint drop)
Stop prior to “hyper”
Hypermobility and stabilization
Apprehension with hypermobility is normal. Cue to relax apprehension before stabilizing.
Shoulder Horizontal Adduction
stabilize shoulder
note ROM in the arc of flexion add down to extension adduction
Shoulder Internal Rotation
Evaluate HBB reaching upwards to head
Note range where humeral head translates anteriorly (hand on humeral head)
Testing of automatic setting of humeral head/VCT
ability of shoulder to have stabilizing contraction while resisting flexion/approximation at 90 degrees
Straight arm/elbow
Stagger stance (see what stagger is weaker each side and retest using same stance)
Hand on inferior prox. humerus vs scapula
Elbow Flexion test
Stability of GH and scapula
Efficiency of connection to core
Postural evaluation
lateral view for overall postural alignment
Stabilizing shoulder girdle options for Upper Limb Neural Tension Test
Therapist positioned
- SUPERIORLY depressing shoulder girdle assessing for tension subjectively and objectively (initial take up of nerve and check for immediate NT)
- INFERIORLY with hand under posterior shoulder and depress the shoulder girdle
-Can utilize strapping belt to stabilize the shoulder
- Can add cervical side bending and rotation to further challenge the neurovascular structures
Most common nerve tension
Median
If tension with initial shoulder depression
Treat above the clavicle
Areas of nerve tension
Carpal tunnel
Aponeurosis
Neck
Elbow
Pronator Teres
Localization with ULTT
Drop head to same side: Increase in ROM = treat Soft tissue and fascia
No change with head to same side: Think joint
Upper Limb Neural tension for brachial plexus and median nerve
Arm at side, extend the elbow with forearm in supination and progress to slowly extending the wrist testing for tension. Further progress to shoulder abduction up to 90 degrees
Add increased demand on neural mobility by side bending head away from side being tested
Evaluate if tension felt in any cervical vertebrae
*Note ROM of wrist and shoulder ABD at first sign of tension or symptom provocation
Upper Limb Neural tension for Radial nerve
Position like Median nerve with forearm in pronation and wrist flexion (palm down)
Upper Limb Neural tension for Ulnar nerve
Flex arm and place hand next to face (circle between thumb and first finger). Slowly horizontally abduct arm testing for tension
Neural tension caution
Avoid stretching neural tissues (exacerbation of symptoms). Only test tissues to initiation of tension - therapist or patient perception
Disinhibition series identifies
-Evaluate initiation (ACE), strength, ability to hold (not push), ability to produce irradiation, and endurance
-Means of identifying if there is a cervical component to peripheral weakness
-Identify what type of cervical position or upper quadrant stress will inhibit
-Develop home program and body mechanics strategies
Disinhibition series
- Evaluation of CPM
- Pivot Prone (shoulder girdle and upper extremity response)
- Peripheral Strength (supine and sitting. compare bilaterally)
4.Segmental Eval - Treatment in supine/sitting
- Retest weak muscles
- Impact test
- Treatment strategies
- HEP training
Peripheral muscle weakness connected too
Disinhibition of FFM/ACE
Check Impact test/ core
CPM
Evaluate diagonal direction for flexion/extension for ACE, Initiation, Strength, Endurance, And irradiation
Pivot prone
Identifies inhibition of muscular response
Caution with manual contact To front/lateral surface with testing
Feel scapula
ER not hand facing forward
Ask self: where is breaking point? GH, Scapula, Serratus posterior, neck?
Peripheral Strength tests
- Thumb add & opposition (C8-T1)
-arm at side elbow at 90 mid range supination and pronation - Wrist flexors (C7)
-Same as Thumb add - Wrist extension (C6)
-Same as Thumb add - ER/IR (C5-6)
-Same as Thumb add - Elbow flexion (C5-6) and Extension (C7)
-at side forearm in supination - Forearm pronation
-Pronator teres (C6) and Quadratus Teres (C8-T1)
-Palm down at side, PT hand in hand thumbs interlocked - Shoulder flexion (C5-6)
-PNF upper extremity patterns (optional) - Problematic function motion or pattern
*Break test score not MMT
Disinhibition Segmental eval
- Evaluated in supine or sitting
- perform axial elongation (lengthening and posterior motion of cervical spine and tucking of the chin)
- Pressure on transverse processes, assess ability to hold each level
- Deep neck flexors: resist under chin with chin tucked
What muscle is the primary deep cervical stabilizer?
Longus coli
Disinhibition Treatment (inhibited segments)
- into axial extension
- General resistance PA resistance
- Specific segmental faciliatory treatment
a. Prolonged hold to specific transverse process of identified inhibited segments
b. Unilateral enhanced facilitation: add cranial rotation towards weak side
c. Irradiation- Discover what will assist using 1) resisted chin tucking 2) LE or UE resistance to facilitate inhibited segments
d. Resistance to cranial elongation through pressure on top of head or behind occipital ridge
Axial extension should
Lengthen not buckle
Disinhibition HEP
- Train patient: perform self-resisted axial elongation one hand behind neck to resist posterior motion one hand under chin to resist short neck flexors. Tip of tongue on rugae of hard palate. Maintain contraction until an enhanced contraction is achieved.
- Resisted home program- resistance to specific weak segments with TheraBand or belt. Progressively increase length of hold time. Perform on regular basis up to 10x daily; finding target muscle weakness and whenever inadvertently utilize agg. activities.
- Progression: to sitting and prolong axial extension in functional postures
- Elongation: TheraBand resist
Primary thoracic girdle structures
1st and 2nd Thoracic vertebra
1st and 2nd ribs
Manubrium
Sternoclavicular joints
Upper T/S manipulations can improve
Cervical, shoulder, and elbow functions
Disinhibition retesting muscles
No change: prognosis is guarded
Strength and initiation improved: central involvement or inhibited state and mechanism to facilitate improvement
Thoracic girdle Evaluation
- VCT and EFT
- Thoracic girdle
- Mobility
1st and 2nd rib - Extension hypomobilities of upper T/S
EFT assesses what in the shoulder?
Watch for GH stabilization
Meet contraction
Shoulder winging
ACE/CFS
Impact test
In supine or sitting
*teach patients to test themselves
1. Prolonged cervical flexion -most often inhibitory motion
2. Other cervical motions- Extension (looking up), Side bending (phone), forward head posture, rotation (backing up car)
3. Axial compression-compression on top of head (wearing a hat)
4. Arm pull- carrying objects (Thoracic outlet)
5. Any motion or activity pt reports aggravates symptoms
Shoulder girdle VCT Assessment
Test both foot position strategies and find which weakest vs strongest
Test flexion vs approximation stabilization
Can shoulder girdle push to engage?
Sources of prolonged C/S flexion
Watching TV, Cell phones, Sleeping with multiple pillows under head
Therapist mechanics for 2nd rib
Weight shift through hips
Disinhibition treatment strategies
- identify positive activities (inhibitory)
- Train to avoid those activities or motions. Most reintroduce within several weeks.
- Retest patient in more demanding ways as they improve
Thoracic girdle mobility
Breathing
Folding and lengthening of ribs and manubrium with flexion / extension
T1-2 with flexion / extension / rotation hands interlocked behind neck (lift elbows to create T/S extension)
1st and 2nd rib
- First rib
a. Side bending
b. Rotation - Soft tissue
a. Deep fascia, levator, upper traps
b. Posterior superior Serratus - 2nd/3rd ribs side lying
- First rib A/P-P/A
- First rib depression
- Anterior and medial scalenus mobility
1st rib movement with Right Cervical movement
Right Rib posterior superior
Left Rib anterior inferior
1st rib to assessment
Glide Inferior/anterior vs posterior
1st rib mobility aspects
AP/PA
Depression
1st rib mobilization ideas
Snowman with a hat
Knuckle