Test #2 Lumbar Spine

Question 1

What is the Lumbar spine?

Answer 1

• Largest portion of the spine
• 5 lumbar vertebrae
  - L1 –L5
• Intervertebral disks

Question 2

What are the Lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 2

• Vertebral body
• Vertebral foramen
• Transverse process
• Spinous process

Question 3

What are the two vertebral disk in the Lumbar spine?

Answer 3

• Annulus fibrosus
• Nucleus pulposus

Question 4

What is the spinal cord/ what is it composed of?

Answer 4

• Spinal cord
• Spinal nerve roots

Question 5

What are the movements of the lumbar spine?

Answer 5

• Flexion
• Extension
• Lateral flexion
• Rotation

Question 6

Lumbar spine pathologies

Answer 6

• Low Back Pain (LBP)
• Contusion
• Sprains
• Strains
• Kissing spine
• Traumatic fractures
• Spondylolysis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Intervertebral Disc Disorders/herniated disc

Question 7

What are the types of Intervertebral Disc Disorders/herniated disc?

Answer 7

Protrusion
Prolapse
Extrusion
Sequestration

Question 8

Herniated disc

Answer 8

Signs/Symptoms: centrally
located pain that radiates
unilaterally to the buttocks and
down the back of the leg

Onset may be sudden or gradual and pain may increase after sitting then trying to resume activity

Question 9

Lumbar spine test

Answer 9

• Forward Bending w/ Chin Tuck
• Backward Bending
• Side Bending
• Active Straight Leg Raise

Question 10

Forward Bending w/ Chin Tuck

Answer 10

• Have patient stand feet hip to
  shoulder width apart
• Clinician stands to the side of the patient
• With arms relaxed, instruct patient to bend forward, at the end of their ROM instruct them to tuck their chin to their chest
• Note any changes in symptoms

Question 11

Backward Bending

Answer 11

• Patient stands with their hands on their hips and feet hip to shoulder width apart
• Clinician stands to the side of the patient
• Instruct the patient to bend
  backwards into lumber extension as far as they can

Question 12

Side Bending

Answer 12

• Patient stands with their arms relaxed at their sides
• Clinician stands in front of the patient
• Instruct the patient to bend to one side, sliding their hand down their leg as far as they
  can
• Observe the patient’s movements for any compensations and assess for pain
• Repeat test on the opposite side

Question 13

Active Straight Leg Raise

Answer 13

• Patient lies supine while the clinician stands to the side of the patient being test
• Passively flex the knee, flex the ankle, extend the knee, flex the hip
• Ask the patient to tuck their chin to their chest and note any symptom provocation
• Release DF of the ankle
• Note any changes in symptoms