Cervical Spine Essay
The cervical spine represents the most mobile and the least stable portion of the vertebral column. It is a complex region comprising of seven vertebrae of different shapes and sizes connected by intervertebral discs and interlinked via ligaments and muscles. Neck pain is the most common musculoskeletal condition affecting the community. It has a debilitating impact on the functional performance of an individual. It poses a substantial economic burden for both the individual and society. 1 Commonly, there is an absence of an identifiable underlying cause or any abnormal anatomical structure in neck disorders. Non-specific neck pain is defined as simple neck pain without any specific underlying disease that leads to pain. The symptoms of non
…show more content…
It provides stability and mobility to the shoulder girdle and upper extremity. 3 Patients with neck pain may experience upper limb dysfunction but it is not clear picture that what proportion of neck pain patients experience upper limb disability. However, it is evident that patients diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy demonstrate dermatomal loss and myotomal weakness in the upper limb.4 However, it may happen that upper limb symptoms may also aggravate in case of non-specific neck pain. Mechanical loading is the commonest cause of upper limb disability in neck pain. When upper limbs are loaded, the Cervical segments move and the loads placed on upper limb are transferred to the cervical structures via the axio scapular muscle attachments of levator scapula and trapezius. These forces may stress the cervical structures leading to pain and thus inhibiting the performance of upper limb activities. 5A recently published study provides a preliminary evidence that patients with severe neck pain/disability report severe upper limb disability which was mediated by pain self efficacy 6However the above study targeted the chronic and severe neck pain population.The present study aimed to find relation between neck pain and upper limb disability in nonspecific neck pain
It provides stability and mobility to the shoulder girdle and upper extremity. 3 Patients with neck pain may experience upper limb dysfunction but it is not clear picture that what proportion of neck pain patients experience upper limb disability. However, it is evident that patients diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy demonstrate dermatomal loss and myotomal weakness in the upper limb.4 However, it may happen that upper limb symptoms may also aggravate in case of non-specific neck pain. Mechanical loading is the commonest cause of upper limb disability in neck pain. When upper limbs are loaded, the Cervical segments move and the loads placed on upper limb are transferred to the cervical structures via the axio scapular muscle attachments of levator scapula and trapezius. These forces may stress the cervical structures leading to pain and thus inhibiting the performance of upper limb activities. 5A recently published study provides a preliminary evidence that patients with severe neck pain/disability report severe upper limb disability which was mediated by pain self efficacy 6However the above study targeted the chronic and severe neck pain population.The present study aimed to find relation between neck pain and upper limb disability in nonspecific neck pain