OAT Neck Pain Flashcards
What is pain?
warning sign of tissue injury
What are sources of acute pain?
muscle tendon ligament joint capsule cartilage fascia
What does tissue compression cause?
compartment syndromes
nerve issues
What is reflex sympathetic dystrophy?
complex regional pain syndrome
in mild forms, differentiated by skin sensitivity & color changes (flushing)
What is enthesopathy?
weakness of the attachment point of tendon or ligament to bone
healing is generally complete by end of 8 weeks (later pain is due to incomplete healing)
creates reflexive tension w/ in muscle that has weak attachments
What are sxs of enthesopathies?
chronic pain w/ flares, worse in mornings & with activity (think plantar fasciitis)
What is regional instability?
due to ligament laxity, usually due to insufficient healing
can lead to chronic muscle tension & overuse injury or further tears from increased tension
What is bursitis?
identified by location, fluctuance & tenderness
What is somatic dysfunction?
joint, fascia, or muscles that commonly become dysfunctional
joint dysfunction causes “facilitated” regions (local spasm & hypersensitivity)
How is somatic dysfunction resolved?
resolves with OMT
What sxs are associated with cervical radiculopathy?
reports of scapular area sxs alleviated w/ neck positioning has high likelihood ratio for radiculopathy
What are worrisome sxs of cervical myelopathy?
other sx including Hoffman’s
Babinski
Age>45yo
Gait disturbances
What are common muscular causes of neck pain?
Scalene m
Longus coli m
Splenius capitis m
Levator scapulae m
What are common specific causes of neck pain?
Radiculopathy Cervical Myelopathy Upper thoracics Occipital Neuritis Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What are common tendinous causes of neck pain?
Scalene m
Longus coli m
Splenius capitis m
Levator scapulae m
What are common ligamentous causes of neck pain?
Facet capsule Interspinous ligament (of cervical vertebrae)
What are common neurologic causes of neck pain?
Scalene m (accounts for 80% of numb/tingling)
Pectoralis minor m
Facet or disc
Is the SD the primary DX and causing symptoms?
cause is likely when SD is unusual
cause is likely when location of symptom & significant TART findings align
cause is even more likely when pressure @ SD reproduces quality of pts sxs
What are biomechanical causes of neck pain?
injury or insufficient healing of tendon, muscle, enthesis, capsule, fascia
facial tension imbalance
chronic strains (caused by dz like MS, CP)
leg length
What are neurological causes of neck pain?
nerve impingement nerve entrapment nerve damage referred pain disease
What are respiratory/circulatory causes of neck pain?
cervical congestion (from tight muscle) SVC syndrome
What are metabolic-energetic causes of neck pain?
URI or other infection Inflammation rxns (ankylosing spondylitis, RA)
What are behavioral causes of neck pain?
behaviors that lead to tension & strain patterns (posture, studying, vision)
What techniques would you use to tx biomechanical causes of neck pain?
reduce tension
improve symmetry
reduce impingement
reduce strength imbalances
