Eval of Cervical and Thoracic Complaints
This serious red-flag condition involves a break in the cervical spine.
Sinister Pathology: What is a cervical fracture?
This pain pattern is commonly reported as central and/or affecting one side of the neck.
What is central and/or unilateral neck pain?
This condition’s onset is commonly tied to trauma—especially this rapid acceleration/deceleration event.
What is whiplash?
This symptom pattern is described as noncontinuous, affecting one side of the neck, and paired with this referred complaint.
What is an associated (referred) headache?
This hallmark symptom is neck pain with a “narrow band of lancinating” pain that travels into the affected arm.
What is radiating (radicular) pain into the involved extremity?
This vascular issue in the neck can mimic musculoskeletal pain and requires caution.
SINISTER PATHOLOGY: What is cervical arterial dysfunction?
This key symptom is when decreased neck movement consistently brings on the person’s complaints.
What is limitation in neck motion that consistently reproduces symptoms?
Along with neck pain, patients may report this pair of symptoms affecting equilibrium and the stomach.
What are dizziness and nausea?
In this condition, headaches are often triggered or worsened by these two mechanical factors.
What are neck movements or sustained positions/postures?
Patients may report abnormal sensation or numbness that follows this specific peripheral nerve map pattern.
What is dermatomal paresthesia or numbness?
A spinal cord-related condition under “neck pain with radiating arm pain” that can indicate cord compression.
NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION: What is cervical myelopathy?
A classic expected finding in this condition is decreased movement here.
What is limited cervical range of motion (ROM)?
A cluster of symptoms may include headache plus trouble with these mental functions, sometimes with confusion.
What are concentration or memory difficulties?
A common positive test used to support this diagnosis is the cervical - test.
What is the cervical flexion-rotation test?
Weakness may be found in muscles that match this spinal-nerve–based distribution pattern.
What is myotomal muscle weakness?
This category includes neck pain that presents with headaches.
What is CRANIAL/CERVICAL DYSFUNCTION?
In this exam finding, symptoms are provoked when testing the mobility between individual spinal segments.
What is intersegmental mobility testing revealing a characteristic restriction?
This expected exam finding is often used to identify impaired deep neck flexor function.
What is a positive cranial cervical flexion test?
This exam finding occurs when the clinician provokes the involved upper cervical segments, recreating the patient’s symptoms.
What is headache reproduced with provocation of the involved upper cervical segments?
A positive radiculopathy test cluster can include this provocative test that compresses the cervical spine.
What is Spurling’s test?
This anterior rib condition is commonly associated with chest wall pain and inflammation at the costochondral junction.
T SPINE/RIB DYSFUNCTION: What is costochondritis (anterior rib)?
In subacute or chronic cases, patients may show weakness or poor control in this linked region/system.
What are cervicoscapulothoracic strength and motor control deficits?
This pattern of pain occurs during mid-range motion and gets worse when the neck reaches the extremes of movement.
What is neck pain with mid-range motion that worsens with end-range positions?
Patients may demonstrate deficits in these three aspects of neck muscle performance.
What are strength, endurance, and coordination deficits of the neck muscles?
In this test from the cluster, symptoms may be reduced when traction is applied to the neck.
What is cervical distraction?