© 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Spine PE 236 Amber Giacomazzi MS, ATC

© 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

The SpinePE 236

Amber Giacomazzi MS, ATC







Cervical Injuries

• Cervical Sprain “________”– Same mechanisms as a strain but to a higher

degree– Signs and Symptoms

• __________________

– Treatment• Refer to physician• ______________• ______________• ______________


Cervical Injuries• Stretching of the _____________________• Commonly referred to as a “_____” or a “______”• Dangers—reoccuring stretching—C4-T1

– Signs and Symptoms• _______________• _______________• _______________

– Treatment• ______________• Ice• __________ (____________________)• Prevent (neck roll)


• Low Back Pain– Cause of Injury

• Congenital anomalies• Mechanical defects of the spine (___________________________)• ___________________

-Signs and Symptoms• Pain, possible weakness, __________, muscle strains and bony defects• ________________________________________________

– Treatment • ________________________________• ________________________– avoid unnecessary stresses and strains

associated with daily living

Lumbar Injuries


• Lumbar Vertebrae Fracture and Dislocation– Cause

• Compression fractures or fracture of the spinous or transverse processes

• Compression fractures are usually the result of ________ __________________________________

• Fractures of the processes are generally the result of a ______ __________

• Dislocations tend to be rare– Signs and Symptoms

• _________________________• ______________________________________________• Localized swelling and guarding

Lumbar Injuries


• Treatment– X-ray and physician referral– Transport with _________

_____________________ _____________________

– ____________________


• Low Back Muscle Strain– Cause of Injury

• ____________________________ generally in conjunction w/ some type of __________

• Chronic strain associated with ______________________

– Signs and Symptoms• Pain may be ______________; pain w/ _____________ and

_________________

– Treatment• RICE to decrease spasm; followed by a __________________

____________________• Elastic wrap/back brace may be useful for support and

compression• Complete bed rest may be necessary if it is severe enough• NSAID’s

Lumbar Injuries


• Back Contusions– Cause of Injury

• Significant impact or direct blow to the back

– Signs and Symptoms• Pain, swelling, discoloration, ____________ and

point tenderness

– Treatment• RICE for the first ____________• Ice massage combined with gradual stretching• Recovery generally last ___________________

Lumbar Injuries


• Sciatica – Cause of Injury

• Inflammatory condition of the ___________• Nerve is vulnerable to _______ or _________ that place

abnormal amounts of ____________________________

– Signs and Symptoms• Arises _______________; produces ___________

_______________________• Sensitive to palpation with ________________

intensifying the pain

– Treatment• Rest is essential; acutely – recovery = 2-3 weeks• Treat the cause of inflammation; traction if disk

protrusion is suspected; NSAID’s

Lumbar Injuries


• Herniated Disk– Cause of Injury

• Caused by ______________ and ___________ due to use (_______ ________________ __________)

– _______________– _______________


– Signs and Symptoms• _______________________________• Symptoms are worse in the __________• Onset is sudden or gradual, pain may increase after the athlete

sits and then tries to resume activity• _______________________ increase pain, while back

____________ reduces pain• Straight leg raise to _____________ is painful

– Treatment• Rest and ice for pain management• _________________ may be comfortable• _____________________ should be integrated as athlete

improves

Lumbar Injuries


• Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis– Cause of Injury

• Spondylolysis refers to __________________ due to ___________ __________ (stress fracture results)

• ______________________________ is referred to as spondylolisthesis and is often associated with a spondylolysis

– Signs and Symptoms• Pain and persistent aching, _____________ with increased pain

____________ • Frequent need to change position or “____” back to reduce pain• ___________________________________

Lumbar Injuries




– Treatment• Bracing and occasionally bed rest for 1-3 days will help to

reduce pain• Major focus should be on exercises directed at controlling or

_______________________________• Progressive trunk strengthening, ______________________,

concentration on abdominal work• Braces can also be helpful during high level activities• _____________________


Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

• Sacroiliac Sprain– Cause of Injury

• Result of ____________________ __________, stumbles forward, falls backward, steps too far down, _____ _________________, bends forward with knees locked during lifting

– Signs of Injury • Palpable pain and tenderness over

the joint, _____________ w/ some muscle guarding

• __________________________


• Care– Ice can be used to

reduce pain– Bracing can be helpful

in acute sprains– ________________

________________ ________________


Assessment of the Spine

• History– Mechanism of injury (___________________)

• Numbness, tingling, burning?• _______________________________• Do you have equal strength in both sides of the body?


– Other general questions• _______________________________________• What were you doing when the pain started?• Did the pain begin immediately and how long have

you had it?• ________________________________________• Past history of back pain• Sleep position and patterns, seated positions and

postures



• Observations– Body type– Postural alignments

and asymmetries should be observed from all views

– Assess ________ ___________ between anatomical landmarks



Postural Malalignments


• Palpation– Should be performed with athlete prone

• Head and neck should be slightly flexed, pillow under hips if suffering from low back pain

– _________________________________ _________________________________ ___________________

– Muscles should also be palpated bilaterally



• Special Tests– Test for lumbar spine should be performed

standing, sitting, supine, side-lying and prone– Assess levels of pain and motion restriction

during the following tests• _________________________• _________________________



– _____________________• Applies pressure to SI joint and may indicate

problems with sciatic nerve, SI joint or lumbar spine

Documents

© 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Spine PE 236 Amber Giacomazzi MS, ATC