Athletic Injuries ATC 222 The Spine Chapter 23

Anatomy Vertebral Column –7 cervical vertebra –12 thoracic vertebra –5 lumbar vertebra –5 sacral vertebra Intervertebral disks –annulus pulposus –nucleus pulposus Ligaments –anterior longitudinal –posterior longitudinal –supraspinous –interspinous Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves

Anatomy

Motion Vertebral Column –flexion/extension –right/left lateral flexion –left/right rotation Cervical –rotation C1-C2 –flex/ext = atlanto-occipital joint Thoracic –flex/ext degrees max Lumbar –90% flex/ext occurs at L4-L5-S1

Cervical Injury Catastrophic Injury –definition Warning Signs: –unconsciousness –deformity –loss of strength/movement in extremities –anesthesia/paresthesia in extremities Assessment –stabilize and calm athlete –call EMS –ABC’s

Mechanisms of Injury Mechanisms: –axial loading spearing straight column –hyperflexion –hyperextension –lateral hyperflexion –rotation –combinations whip lash

Specific Injuries Fractures Dislocations Strain –pain in muscle primarily –pain with AROM of muscle –pain with passive stretch of muscle –pain/weakness w/ strength testing Brachial Plexus Syndrome –C5-T1 –paresthesia, weakness –return to play criteria –treatment Prevention of Neck Injuries

Thoracic and Lumbar Injuries Postural deviations –kyphosis –scoliosis –lordosis causes Normal posture –pages –ear-shoulder-hip-knee-ankle –level knees, hips, and shoulders –normal vertebral curves Congenital abnormalities –may also be mechanical –spondylolysis Vs spondylolisthesis –causes and treatment

Sciatica definition signs and symptoms causes –mechanical –structural –compression swelling disk herniation tumor Prevention of Spinal Injuries –pages

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