Spinal Mechanics Flashcards
Cervical Spine
Facet joints oriented an average of 45’ between the frontal and transverse plan
True Coupled motion
Allows the most movement if the Spinal segments
Typically vertebrae
Are described as the above segment moving on the segment below
Cervical Felxion
Top IAF slides up bottom SAF slides down
Open intervertebral facet face
Cervical Extension
Top IAF slides down, bottom SUF slides up
Close intervertebral facet space
Cervical Rotation (side bending -SB- and rotation happen together)
Downward IAF glide toward side turning to
Upward IAF glide on side turning away from
Cervical SB and Rotation
Will close the intervertebral facets on the side that you are turning toward cause compression and decompression
Cervical With flexion and a facet that is stuck
Deviation will be to the involved side
Cervical With extension and a facet that is stuck
There may be no change or deviation to the uninvolved side (away)
Thoracic Spine
Facet orientation mostly in the coronal plane
Most diversity of facet orientation
Mobility limited by ribs
Extension in the thoracic spine
Is limited–less extension than flesion and more rotation in thoracic than lumbat
Lumbar Spine
Facet orientation mostly in the sagittal (L1-3)
Increased Flexion/extension ROM
Decreased sidebending/rotation ROM
Transitions in the Thoracolumbar spine
60’coronal to a frontal plane orientation–restricts rotation but allows flexion and extension
Lumbar rotation to the right
Causes compression on the opposite facet joint
How do you measure spine ROM
Inclinometers This is actually hard to measure
We have more flexion than extension and more lateral flexion than rotation
Lumbar Spine has the most flexion
L4-L5
