NECK PAIN

NECK PAIN

The neck (cervical spine) is composed of vertebrae which begin in the upper torso and end at the base of the skull. The long vertebrae along with ligaments provide stability to the spine. The muscles allow for support and motion.

Neck pain or cervical spine pain is a common ailment occurring in all age groups affecting 50 – 70% of people. Prevalence of neck pain was diagnosed to be common in women 48% than in men 38%.

The neck can be vulnerable to injury and disorders that produce pain and restrict the motion. Since, it is less protected than the rest of the spine.

The most common cause of neck pain is soft tissue abnormalities due to injury or prolonged wear and tear. The factors which cause repetitive strain on soft tissues are prolonged sitting postures in computer professionals with out adequate support, forward head posture, faulty postures during sleep, and overhead tasks in electricians, painters and machine operators.

Proprioception is defined as the perception of positions and movements of the body segments in relation to each other. When there is damage to the mechanoreceptors in the joint, the persistent presence of pain inhibits the surrounding musculature to contract, which impairs the threshold of Proprioception leading to the recurrence of the symptoms.

Cervical spine pain is treated depends on what diagnosis it reveals and most patients are treated successfully. A better understanding of the variety of spine pain population is to cost-effective assessment and management necessary for primary spine care specialist.

To make the rehabilitation holistic, it is necessary to retrain Proprioception of the joint which helps in the reduction of neck symptoms and improvement in general health for self-experienced working ability.

OSTEOPOROSIS

Five Fundamental steps to maintain bone health

A. Encage in regular PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 30 minutes per day for 3 to 5 days per week

B. Take medications if need and do check for Bone mineral density once a year.

C. Consult family doctor about bone health and maintenance.

D. Intake of recommended amount of Calcium and vitamin D.

E. Avoid smoking and Excessive alcohol.

Geriatrics

Geriatrics is the branch of medicine dealing especially with the problems of ageing and diseases of the elderly. People are classed as elderly on reaching up to the age of 60 years, but in the 21^st century due to the high standards of living have increased the life expectancy up to 75 years.

The increasingly ageing population presents unique challenges for rehabilitation medicine. One third of the population over age 65 – 75 years experiences one fall per year. In the elderly population Falls are common in old age, Falls have been highly associated with the muscle strength, alternation, altered stride characteristics balance etc..

Frequent Falls and difficult in doing functional abilities are particularly likely to occur due to ageing process or weakness. These impairments may have an addition or interactive effect on an individual’s level of mobility mainly on doing functional tasks.

Fall is an event in which a person comes to rest inadvertently on the ground. A fall can result in disability by decrease in confidence, restricting mobility causing injury and debilitation and resulting in loss of independence. Old people need to strengthen their muscles in order to reduce their risk of falling and improve their functional ability. (Simpson 1993). Strict observation in home circumstances is necessary to achieve the sufficient intensity to the exercise program as in hospital setting.

Functional activities are highly skilled movement pattern which have been developed and refined with many years of practice. The leading factor to a decline in function in elderly people is lack of practice to these functional activities leading to a downward spiral in ability.

Exercise is a great way to keep older people active and function, but should be approached with caution. Exercises should not to be vigorous to be beneficial. Mild, regular and functional exercise is the key factor for staying healthy and happy.

EXERCISES BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM

EXERCISES BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM

• Increase oxygen
• u Clearing the body toxins
• u Deepening the breath & stimulate lymph system
• u Delivering immune cells to their sites of activity
• u Shifting out the adrenaline mode
• u Stimulation of Neuro transmitters that provide a sense of well being.
• u Boost production of macrophages

• u During exercise the immune cells circulate throughout the body more quickly and are able to kill bacteria and viruses

• u Regular exercises help to build up the Immune system and also it prevent diseases.

PROTOCOLS

u Duration : 20—30 minutes

u Frequency : 4 days per week

u Walking

u Bicycling

u Light Gym workouts

u Playing Golf, Shuttle..

Bony Configuration LUMBAR

Lumbar spine is a single functional unit composed of 5 vertebras forming a motion segment connected in series each motion segment consist of 2 adjacent vertebral bodies and connected by Intervertebral disc, Ligaments and muscles^1,4,6.

Bony Configuration

Vertebra consists of anterior block of bone – The body.

Posterior bony ring consist of Neural arch – containing articular, transverse and spinous processes.

Neural arch consist of two pedicles and two lamina from which arises the seven processes – one spinous processes, Two Transverse processes and four articular facet^.

Adjacent Vertebra is connected together by Intervertebral disc, contributing 20 – 30 % of the spinal length^.

Ligaments

Six Ligaments

Anterior longitudinal Ligament, Posterior longitudinal Ligament, Capsular Ligament, Ligamentum Flavum, Interspinous Ligament, Supraspinous Ligament.

CAUSE OF LOW BACK PAIN

Physical work factor

Heavy manual work

Lifting and twisting

Postural stress – sitting and driving

Whole body vibration

Psychosocial work factors

Societal influences

Monotonous work

Lack of personal control – Tension, Stress, Anxiety, fear and depression.

Low job satisfaction

Physiological factors

Low physical fitness

Inadequate trunk strength

Personal risk factors

Heredity, sex, age, body built, smoking, social class.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the prevalent musculoskeletal injuries seen by physiotherapist and sports medicine practitioners. (Clement et al., 1981). The etiology of PFPS is not clearly understood. It may occur due to variety of factors including lower leg and foot mal alignment. Abnormal position of the Rear foot tends to cause abnormal movement in the associated joints like Knee, Hip, Pelvic & SI joint.

Patellofemoral pain may affect as many as 25 % of athletic population.( Mcconnell. 1986). Patellar problems are common in adolescents and distance athletes (runners, cyclists). (Christopher Hess,2003). Patient usually active and Young complain of retropatellar or peripatellar Pain. It results from physical and biochemical changes in the patellofemoral joint. (Rothbart BA, Estabrook 1998).

Excessive Pronation of the Subtalar Joint leads to Patellofemoral Pain. (Buchbinder 1979).The Excessive subtalar joint Pronation may delay External rotation of leg, and therefore inhibit supination of Foot. (Donatelli, 1987). Excessive Rear foot Pronation leads to Tibial Internal rotation which translates abnormal stress in Knee cause pain in anterior area of knee. (Buchbinder et al., 1979, Donatelli 1987, Kaufman et al., 1999).

Patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome have anterior knee pain that typically occurs with activity and often worsens when they are descending steps or hills. It can also be triggered by prolonged sitting.( Cutbill JW 1997.) It is precipitated by sitting for prolonged periods (Movie – goer sign).One or both knees can be affected. Consensus is lacking regarding the cause and treatment of the syndrome.