Week 1- L-spine Examination Flashcards
PART 1: CHART REVIEW/PATIENT INTERVIEW
PART 1: CHART REVIEW/PATIENT INTERVIEW
Screening Questions:
- Hx of ________, _________, _______, and ______.
- ______ loss
- Fatigue
- _______ and ________ dysfunction
- Sexual dysfunction
- LE dysesthesia/motor impairments
- Fever
- Abnormal sweating
- Concomitant DM
- Immunocompromization
- Hx of cancer, smoking, infection, and trauma
- Weight loss
- Bowel and bladder dysfunction
Common Red Flags with L-Spine:
- Age > ___
- No improvement in symptoms after ___ month(s)
- Previous Hx of _______
- No relief with _______
- Unexplained ____________
- Fever
- Thoracic pain
- “being systematically unwell”
- Age >50
- 1 month
- cancer
- bed rest
- weight loss
What are some outcome measures to use for Low Back? (3)
- PSFS
- Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
- Roland Morris Questionnaire
What are some outcome measures to use for psychosocial limitations? (3)
- Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ)
- Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
- Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK)
PART 2: VISUAL INSPECTION
PART 2: VISUAL INSPECTION
Anterior View:
- What can we see with a visual inspection?
- What landmark palpations?
- weight shifting, pelvic asymmetry, LE alignment, distress
- ASISs
Posterior View:
- Visual inspection for soft tissue and bony contour general symmetry including what?
- Posture assessment with what landmark palpations?
- erector spinae mass, inferior angles in line with T7, tibial and fibular malleoli, popliteal crease
- vertical alignment of spine, iliac crest height, PSISs
Posterior View:
- What are (3) common abnormalities found when looking from posterior view?
- Lateral shift is often attributed to what?
- Unilateral muscle mass variance can be __________ (atrophy) or _________ (guarding, inhibition, spasm, volitional).
- Lateral shift, Scoliotic curvature, Unilateral muscle mass variance
- Lumbar lateral flexion “away” from laterality of pain source
- morphological or physiologic
Lateral View:
- Plumb line assessment with what 3 structures in line?
- Can observe lordotic curvature.
- Posture assessment with what landmark palpations?
- external auditory meatus, acromion, peak of iliac crest
- vertical alignment of spine, iliac crest height, PSISs
Lateral View:
- What are (3) common abnormalities found when looking from lateral view?
- Excessive lumbar lordosis is associated with the “tripod effect”, what is this? What is it possibly consistent with?
- Excessive lumbar lordosis may accompany _______ pelvic tilt.
- With pelvic cross syndrome, which muscles are shortened? Which are lengthened?
- Excessive lumbar lordosis, Diminished lumbar lordosis, “Sway Back” posture
- Z-joint become weight bearing, consistent with spondylolisthesis
- anterior
- shortened erector spinae and iliopsoas, lengthened abdominals and glute max
Lateral View:
- Diminished lumbar lordosis is known as “flat back” posture and may be consistent with what?
- Consider compressive loading on ________ vertebral body.
- May accompany __________ pelvic tilt.
- Often associated with shortening of _________, lengthening of ______________.
- lumbar stenosis
- anterior vertebral body
- posterior
- shortening of hamstrings, lengthening of hip flexors
Lateral View:
- “Sway Back” posture involves _________ thoracic kyphosis and __________ pelvic tilt.
- Sway back also associated with excessive hip ___________ and lengthened back extensors and hip flexors.
- excessive, posterior
- extension
Gait:
1
Gait
1
PART 3: SYSTEMS REVIEW
PART 3: SYSTEMS REVIEW
1
2
PART 4: ELIMINATION TESTS
PART 4: ELIMINATION TESTS
What are the (4) main parts of elimination testing?
- Lower Quarter Screen (LQS)
- Neuro Screening Tests
- Other Screening Tests
- Special Tests
What are the (5) main parts of a Lower Quarter Functional Screening?
- Lumbar AROM
- Squat
- Unilateral squat vs. Modified lunge
- Walking on Heels (10 steps)
- Walking on Toes (10 steps)
- What are the testing procedures for sensation? (3)
- What are the testing procedures for motor function? (3)
- light touch, pin prick, proprioception
- myotome, peripheral nerve distribution
- coordination
L1-S2 Sensory Testing:
- L1 = ________
- L2 = _________
- L3 = __________
- L4 = _________
- L5 = ________
- S1 = __________
- S2 = _________
- L1 = Proximal anterior thigh
- L2 = Middle anterior thigh
- L3 = Medial Knee
- L4 = Medial Foot
- L5 = Dorsum of Foot
- S1 = Lateral Foot and 5th Toe
- S2 = Medial Posterior Leg
L1-S2 Myotome Testing:
- L1 = ________
- L2 = _________
- L3 = __________
- L4 = _________
- L5 = ________
- S1 = __________
- S2 = _________
- L1 = Hip Flexion
- L2 = Hip Flexion
- L3 = Knee Extension
- L4 = Ankle DF
- L5 = Great Toe Extension
- S1 = Ankle PF
- S2 = Knee Flexion
DTR Nerve Roots:
- Quad = ____
- Extensor Digitorum Brevis = ____
- Achilles = ____
- Quads = L4
- Extensor Digitorum Brevis = L5
- Achilles = S1
What Pathologies can we use Elimination Special Tests on? (4)
- HNP/Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Z-Joint Pain
- Lumbar Stenosis
- Compression Fracture
What elimination tests are used to rule out HNP/Lumbar Radiculopathy?
- Slump Test
- Straight Leg Raise Test (SLR)
Slump Test:
- How is the Slump Test performed?
- What is a positive test?
- Patient locks arms behind back, slumps forward, flexes the neck, extends the leg, and dorsiflexes the foot. Patient is then asked to extend head when radicular symptoms are felt.
- Alleviation of radicular symptoms with neck extension.
SLR Test:
- How is the SLR test performed?
- What is a positive test?
- Have patient in supine, flex leg while keeping knee fully extended. Ask when patient feels symptoms occur. When felt, back off slightly and DF foot or ask patient to flex neck and see if symptoms come back.
- Pain reproduction when performing DF or neck flexion.
What elimination tests are used to rule out Z-joint Pain?
-Extension-Rotation Test
Extension-Rotation Test:
- How is the Extension-Rotation Test performed?
- What is a positive test?
- Ask patient to cross arms and examiner reaches across patients shoulder while also blocking mid L-spine with other hand. Extend patient over hand, then rotate each direction.
- Pain provocation with rotation toward involved facet arthropathy.