Examination and Treatment of the Cervical Spine: Neck Pain with Mobility Deficits

VOCABULARY flashcards summarizing clinical classifications, irritability stages, and examination findings for cervical spine pathology based on the 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Neck Pain with Mobility Deficits

A clinical classification involving central or unilateral neck pain, movement limitations that reproduce symptoms, and restricted segmental mobility in the cervical and thoracic regions.

Neck Pain with Movement Coordination Impairments (WAD)

A classification linked to whiplash or trauma, often presenting with concussive signs, dizziness, and sensorimotor impairments like altered muscle activation patterns.

Neck Pain with Headache (Cervicogenic)

Presentation characterized by noncontinuous unilateral neck pain and associated headache aggravated by specific movements or sustained postures.

Neck Pain with Radiating Pain (Radicular)

Presentation involving narrow bands of lancinating pain in an extremity, often accompanied by dermatomal paresthesia or myotomal weakness.

Acute Phase Irritability

A condition stage where pain is experienced at rest or during initial to mid-range spinal movements before reaching tissue resistance.

Subacute Phase Irritability

A condition stage where pain is experienced during mid-range motions and worsens at end-range when tissue resistance is encountered.

Chronic Phase Irritability

A condition stage where pain typically worsens with sustained end-range positions or overpressure into tissue resistance.

Capsular Pattern of the Cervical Spine

A clinical finding where flexion is preserved, but all other directions of motion are equally restricted and painful.

Passive Intervertebral Motion (PIVM)

Joint mobility testing used in the cervico-thoracic spine to assess the segmental response to flexion, extension, side bending, and rotation.

Lateral Glide $C3-C7$

A joint mobility test for the mid-cervical spine performed in neutral, flexion, and extension positions.

Extension Restriction Manual Therapy

A supine technique where the therapist creates segmental extension and side bending toward the restriction, followed by an inferomedial glide.

Cervical Flexion-Rotation Test

An expected exam finding used specifically to identify patients in the Neck Pain with Headache clinical category.

Thoracic Manipulation

An intervention recommended across all stages (acute, subacute, and chronic) for the management of neck pain with mobility deficits.

Radiculopathy Test Cluster

A grouping of tests including upper-limb nerve mobility, Spurling's test, cervical distraction, and cervical ROM used to identify radiating pain.

Prone P-A Testing

A joint mobility assessment of the mid-cervical spine involving pressure applied to the spinous or transverse processes.