Week 2 Cervicothoracic spine Flashcards
function of spine - regional (cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine)
cervical - conduit of vertebral artery
thoracic - supports thoracic cage, resolves forces from the humerus/ clavicle/ scapular
lumbar - supports muscles from hip and pelvis
‘stiffness’ lay term vs physio term
lay term: lack of comfort during movement
physio term: loss of end range movement in joints
Erect standing: sagittal plane - cervical and thoracic spine
LoG
cervical spine:
LoG passes posteriorly creating an extension moment
thoracic spine:
LoG passes anteriorly, creating a flexion moment
Forward deviations of the head and neck result in
increased demand on the levator scapula and upper trapezius
Ruptured transverse ligament
橫韌帶斷裂
C1 can slide forward on C2, risking compression of the brainstem
- Common causes of rupture:
Trauma
,Rheumatoid arthritis
,Down syndrome
- Halo-Thoracic brace
transverse ligament maintains the relationship between C1 and C2
RA: immune system attack joint
symptoms: flu-like symtoms (fatigue, fever), often bilateral, morning stiffness more than 30 mins
Costovertebral movements
- The ribs move in a ‘bucket handle’ motion during respiration
- Flexion, extension and coupled rotation/ lateral flexion
Neutral zone
- translational (accessory) movement is greatest
- relatively less tension in spinal ligaments
flexion - limit to movement (O/C1, C1/C2, C2-C7)
O/C1:
ligamentum nuchae
posterior atlantoaxial ligament
C1/C2:
ligamentum nuchae
ligamentum flavumfacet joint capsules
C2-C7:
ligamentum nuchae
ligamentum flavum PLL
flexion - limit to movement (thoracic and lumbar spine)
thoracic spine:
ligamentum flavum
PLL
facet joint capsules
rib cage
lumbar spine:
ligamentum flavum facet joint capsules
posterior annulus
extension - limit to movement (O/C1, C1/C2, C2-C7)
O/C1, C1/C2:
passive tension in the anterior atlantoaxial ligament
C2-C7:
contact of spinous process
ALL
anterior neck muscles
extension - limit to movement (thoracic and lumbar spine)
thoracic spine:
contact of spinous process
ALL
anterior trunk muscles
lumbar spine:
contact of spinous process
ALL
anterior trunk muscles
anterior annulus
rotation & lateral flexion - limit to movement (O/C1, C1/2, C2-C7)
O/C1:
alar ligaments
C1/C2:
alar ligaments
C2-C7:
annulus fibrosis
rotation & lateral flexion - limit to movement (thoracic and lumbar spine)
thoracic spine:
annulus fibrosis
facet joint capsules
intertransverse ligaments
lumbar spine:
annulus fibrosis
facet joint capsules
intertransverse ligaments
iliolumbar ligaments
coupled movements
the facet joints and biomechanics of the soft tissues result in a coupled movement of rotation and lateral flexion occurring simultaneously
muscle action
info
Using the cervicothoracic spine as a stable base, the musculature of this region supports and moves the upper quadrant and thoracic cage
Muscle attachments from the upper limb extend the length of the cervical and thoracic spines to allow a broad dispersal of forces, e.g. trapezius, latissimus dorsi
what is vertebral arteries
- branches of the subclavian arteries
- enter deep to the transverse process of C6
- pass upwards through the transverse process of each cervical vertebra until C1 and enter the skull via the foramen magnum
- the vertebral artery is vulnerable to stretch and trauma
- as it passes through the
transverse foramen
and passesposteriorly around the lateral mass of C1
- result in damage to the lining of the artery 動脈內壁損傷 =
brainstem stroke
risk factors for neck pain (high evidence)
female
previous episode of neck pain
risk factors for prognosis:
- pain intensity
- level of self rated disability
- pain catastrophizing –> wont feel better anymore
- post traumatic stress symptoms
- cold hyperalgesia (increase pain associated with cold)
characteristics of inflammatory BP vs mechanical BP - age at symptom onset, onset, activity, morning stiffness, inflammatory markers
info
inflammatory:
age at symptom onset - <40 yo
onset - persists for >3 months
, insidious
activity - improves with exercise
morning stiffness - moderate, persists for >45 minutes
inflammatory markers - elevated in 50-70%
mechanical:
age at symptom onset - any age
onset - variable
activity - improves with rest
morning stiffness - mild, short-lived
inflammatory markers - normal