Introduction to Spine Flashcards
List 4 differences between the appendicular and axillary skeleton
- The axial system is the stable base upon which all extremity movement occurs.
- The CNS is housed by the axial system.
- The PNS is housed by the appendicular system.
- Movement can be isolated on one side in the appendicular spine, but not in the axial spine.
Spondylolisthesis is common among ______ with back pain.
Younger patients
Spinal stenosis is common among ______ with back pain.
Older patients
What is definite instability?
Defined as exceeding 4 to 5 mm difference on flexion-extension radiographs
True or False: The appendicular system is inherently more complicated than the axillary system.
FALSE
The axillary system is inherently more complicated than the appendicular system
What two process tend to be less accurate when examining the spine?
- Patient histories
2. Examination procedures
_____ is more likely to cause joint movement in the spine than in the extremities
Resisted isometric testing
List 2 examples of classification systems used to classify patients in a way other than by diagnosis.
- McKenzie Method
2. Treatment Based Classification
Motion in the ______ plane is described as _____ and _____ rather than flexion and extension.
- Sagittal Plane
- Forward bending
- Backward bending
Flexion usually refers to movement producing a _____ angle and extension usually refers to movement producing an ______ angle.
- Closing angle
2. Opening angle
In the cervical and lumbar spine, flexion produces an ______ angle, and extension produces a _____ angle.
flexion = opening angle extension = closing angle
What is a motion segment?
The space between two vertebrae.
Movement at a motion segment is usually referred to as motion at the ______ on the ______, regardless of which vertebra is actually moving.
Motion at the TOP vertebral body on the BOTTOM vertebral body.
If motion at T4 is being discussed, this refers to motion of ____ on ____.
T4 on T5
What part of the spine can the PT observe moving when looking at the patient from behind?
Spinous processes
When the patient rotates, the spinous processes will move in the direction ____ the direction of the vertebral bodies and the osteokinematic motion that is occurring
Opposite
if a patient is rotating right, the vertebral body rotates _____, and the spinous process moves toward the _____.
Vertebral body rotates right (same direction)
Spinous process rotates left (opposite direction)
How does recruitment typically occur when movement is initiated at the spine?
SEGMENTALLY
** For example, if a patient rotates his/her neck to the left, movement occurs first at C1, then at C2, then at C3 etc. **
If a patient rotates his/her hips to the left while keeping the trunk forward, motion occurs first at ___, than at ___, then at ___, then at ___ etc.
S1
L5
L4
L3
What kind of joints are the facet joints of the spine? What direction do they move in?
- Plane Joints
2. Move in the direction of the osteokinematic motion
True or False: Convex/concave rules are important in understanding spinal motion.
FALSE
Movement occurs in the direction osteokinematic motion
What is an opening restriction?
Restrictions in flexion / forward bending are accompanied by a decrease in the opening angle
What is a closing restriction?
Restrictions in extension / backward bending are accompanied by a decrease in the closing angle
Opening/closing restrictions are best visualized by looking at the _____ joints.
facet joints
