Week 8: Qs, In Class Notes, RAT Flashcards
What is a working definition of functional instability?
It’s a Dx based on history and PE findings.
It’s a P disorder hypothesized to result from loss of spine’s ability to maintain appropriate mechanical stiffness in neutral, midrange, or end range movements.
What are key differences between structural and functional instability?
Structural: excessive endrange motion beyond anatomical barrier. Tissue damage of things that are supposed to prevent endrange motion e.g. disc, ligament, fracture, etc. Radiographic evidence.
Functional: joint unstable in midrange, control by co-contraction of muscles through neutral zone. No tissue damage. No radiographic evidence. No excessive end range motion.
What is the neutral zone?
From the joints starting position up until the elastic zone. It is the mid range of the joint.
5 clues from Hx suggesting lumbar instability?
1–Episodic and triggered by trivial events
2–Reports of catching, locking, giving away
3–Immediate P with sitting (but dissipates over time to DDX from disc herniation)
4–Temporary response to manipulation
5–Decreased response to manipulation over time
Specific examples of aberrant lumbar motion?
Painful arc
Instability catch
Reverse lumbopelvic rhythm
Clinical prediction rule for predicting who might respond to lumbar stabilization program?
<40 yo
SLR mobility >91˚ (ave both legs)
Aberrant movement with lumbar flexion
Positive prone instability test
What is a clinical prediction rule?
They look at a whole series of factors for something you want to know and they find the shortest list to give you criterion on what to do
Describe the painful arc in the low back
During flexion and extension pt may displace a ROM which reproduces CC and may be accompanied by painful catch. Pain is in the middle, not at the beginning or the end.
Describe the instability catch
Painful catches are associated with temporary loss of motor control and buckling at particular segment(s) during ROM or activity.
Version 2: In flexion or extension, they get to the unstable part so they have to wiggle their back around to keep doing the flexing/extending.
What are 3 segmental findings that would suggest possible instability?
Prone instability test
Decreased resistance with prone joint play
Increased motion with motion palpation
Describe the prone instability test
Pt prone with LE off the end of a table, feet on the floor.
Doc applies P-A pressure to lumbar SP to test for P. If there is pain, pt lifts feet.
(+) sign is absence of P which suggests functional instability and potentially good response to a stabilization program
What are 6 motor control tests?
1–Segmental abnormal movement
2–Painful arc abolished with abdominal bracing
3–Poor motor control during trunk forward lean
4–Poor motor control of pelvic clocking and abdominal hollowing
5–Poor motor control during hip extension test
6–Poor motion control during single leg stand
Describe segmental abnormal movement
What is (+) finding?
(+) Segmental hinging or pivoting with AROM
(+) “wiggling” or non-smooth spinal motions in any plane
(+) spinal “hinging” or sharp angular ion of spine may be present in lat flex
Describe painful arc abolished
What is (+) finding
Pt maintains abdominal brace or deep abdominal activation e.g. abdominal hollowing
(+) improvement or abolishment of painful arcs and movements
Describe trunk forward lean
What is (+) finding?
Pt sitting. Pt leans forward from hips, doc observes spinal curves.
(+) Inability to bend forward >15˚ w/o flexing lumbar or overcompensating with hyperlordosis
Describe pelvic clocking and abdominal hollowing
What is (+) finding?
Difficulty in learning how to control pelvic motion (e.g. inability to find and hold neutral pelvis)
OR
Inability to perform controlled abdominal hollowing
Describe hip extension test
(+) finding?
Prone pt. Lift 1 leg off table, then the other.
(+) TEST FAILURE = lateral shift toward side of hip extension, excessive lordosis, rotation of SPs toward hip extension
Describe single leg stand
(+) findings
20 second single leg stand or sitting on exercise ball with open eyes. Doc’s eyes at level of pelvis and behind
(+) spine deviates from vertical
(+) shift in pelvic crest height
(+) compensatory movements of arms or opposite leg
(+) 2+ brief corrective movements from the starting position
(+) 1 prolonged corrective movement
Spondylolysis: who gets it?
47% young athletes / 5% adult athletes (adults M>F)
What is the MC finding on PE in spondylolysis pts?
P with hyperextension is MC Hx and PE finding
What is the initial ancillary study in order to make Dx of spondylolysis?
Radiographs are initial. More advanced imaging may be req in a variety of circumstances
What are the 2 MC types of spondylolisthesis?
Isthmic/lytic
Degenerative
W>M
Pathoanatomical isthmic/lytic spondylolisthesis?
Defect in pars from stress fractures or bone remodeling after traumatic Fx
Pathoanatomical degenerative spondylolisthesis?
D/t facet arthritis and remodeling
What is the MC location for isthmic spondylolisthesis?
L5
What is the MC location for degenerative spondylolisthesis?
L4