Spine Examination

Question 1

Look:

Define lordosis and kyphosis?

Answer 1

Lordosis - inward curve

Kyphosis - outward curve

Question 2

Look:

Does lordosis or kyphosis happen in the following:

• Cervical spine
• Thoracic spine
• Lumbar spine

Answer 2

C - lordosis

T - kyphosis

L - lordosis

Question 3

Look:

WADES - what does it stand for?

What can cause scoliosis?

Answer 3

Wasting
Asymmetry 
Deformities 
Erythema 
Scars/swellings

Minor leg length discrepancy

Question 4

Feel:

What 3 things do you feel?

Answer 4

Spinous processes
Parasternal muscles
Sacroiliac joints

Question 5

Move:

How do you test lumbar flexion and extension?

How do you test lateral flexion of the thoracolumbar spine?

How do you test the lateral flexion cervical spine?

How do you test lateral flexion and extension of the cervical spine?

+ ROTATION OF THORAX

Answer 5

Touch toes and bend back

Run hand downside

Try and use your ear to touch your shoulder

Touch chin on chest
Look up at the ceiling

Question 6

Move:

What does doing the 2 fingers on spinous processes test for?

Answer 6

Show lumbar flexion is happening, and it isn’t all hip flexion

Question 7

Special tests:

What 3 things do you need to do?

Answer 7

Straight leg test
Limb reflexes
Distal lower limb power

Question 8

Special tests:

Straight leg test:
- What does this show?

What reflexes do you do?

How do you test the power of lower limbs? - 2

Answer 8

Nerve root entrapment/irritation - Sciatica

All limb reflexes, including upper and lower

Dorsiflexion of the great toe
Assess distal pulses