Cervical and Thoracic Spine Dysfunction

Question 1

Cervical Disc Pathology

Answer 1

-Degenerative processes to disc

S/S: pain over cervical spine, limited ROM and motor control, imbalances

Cause: progressive degeneration, repetitive mmts

Better: Laying down

Worse: Sitting, neck motions, coughing

Treatment:
-Surgical: discectomy, fusion
-PT: mobilization, strengthening, manipulation

Question 2

Disc Bulge

Answer 2

-nuc pulposus bulges into fiibrosis

Question 3

Disc Protrusion

Answer 3

-pulosus breaks past fibrosis

Question 4

Disc Extrusion

Answer 4

-pulposes breaks past outer lamina of annulus

Question 5

Disc Sequestration

Answer 5

-pulposus detaches from annulus near SC canal

Question 6

Thoracic Disc Pathology

Answer 6

-Degenerative processes to disc

S/S: asymptomatic, non specific pain, limited motor control, neurological changes, positive neural tension

Cause: progressive degeneration, repetitive flexion mmts, trauma

Better: Laying down, standing

Worse: Sitting, bearing down, coughing

Treatment:
-Surgical: laminectomy
-PT: decrease symptoms, walking, stabilization

Question 7

Cervical Facet Dysfunction

Answer 7

-facets on nerve roots or degeneration

S/S: Non specific neck pain, limited ROM and mobility

Cause: Degeneration or trauma, poor posture
-Primary: older pop, degeneration, hx of trauma
-Secondary: younger pop, trauma, acute injuries

Better: lying down, opening pattern

Worse: closing pattern, repetitive motions, sleeping position

Treatment: changing motions, posture, decrease imbalances, increase ROM

Question 8

Cervical Muscle Strain

Answer 8

-soft tissue injury

S/S: pain over cervical spine, limited ROM and muscle spasms

Cause: trauma, repetitive mmts, stretch or compression

Better: Laying down, modalities

Worse: Sitting, stretching, neck motions, sleeping

Treatment:
-PT: modalities, massage

Question 9

Cervical Radiculopathy

Answer 9

-spinal root dysfunction

S/S: pain and limited ROM numbness and tingling, weakness of musculature

Cause: progressive degeneration that cause impingement, herniation,a cute injurry

Better: open movements, UE above head to unload

Worse: pattern of limitation, neck motions

Question 10

Degenerative Joint Disease

Answer 10

-Degenerative processes to facet surfaces with loss of cartilage

S/S: unilateral pain, stiffness, cracking, loss of normal spine curvature

Cause: progressive degeneration, repetitive mmts, breakdown of hyaline cartilage

Better: stretching, modalities

Worse: inactivity, activities, close down facet joints, more wear and tear

Question 11

Whiplash

Answer 11

-quick trauma where head is forcefully displaced

S/S: neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, anxiety days after trauma, limited ROM, guarding

Cause: head displacement (extension) causing tissue damage

Better: rest

Worse: neck motions

Question 12

Scoliosis

Answer 12

lateral curve of spine >10deg

-Idiopathic: structural with no cause
-Infantile Idiopathic: <3yrs, can grow out of
-Juvenile: 3-10, second most common, risk for poorest outcomes
-Adolescent: >10, most common

-Functional: abnormalities that affect spine
-Neuromuscular: probelms occuring during spine development, cannot correct
-Degenerative: as the body ages

S/S: pain

Cause: progressive degeneration, repetitive mmts

Treatment:
-Surgical: >45
-Bracing: 25-40
-PT: mild, treating contributing factors, focused on injury in tissues