Chp. 9 Spinal Injuries

Exercise and flexibility programs are necessary for the muscles surrounding and supporting the spine, especially what muscles?

Abdominal Muscles

What part of the disk are the several layers of cartilage that surround it called?

Annulus Fibrosus

What's the name of the thick, tough ligament on the anterior aspect of the vertebral segments?

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament

What ligament prevents bony separation during extension?

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament(2)

If the hip is tilted forward, the spine will move into ________, and if the hip is tiled backward, the spine will move into ________.

Extension; Flexion

If an athlete's ear were projected in front of the imaginary normal posture line, what would they have? What does this cause?

Forward Head Posture; a great deal of stress at the back of the neck

Disks rarely bulge to the front or back of the spine? Why?

Front; Front of the spine is covered with a thick ligament and most people have postures that flex the spine forward which puts more pressure on the front of the disk pushing the nucleus pulposus backwards

Since not a lot of exercise equipment is designed for the neck, what should be used to strengthen the neck?

Manual Resistance

What part of the disk is a jellylike core called?

Nucleus Pulposus

If the disk bulge is putting pressure on a nerve, what will the patient feel?

Numbness, tingling, and pain down the leg and pain in the low back that increases with sitting

What is located on a thin portion of the vertebrae between the superior and inferior facets?

Pars Interarticularis

The muscles of the spine do what two things?

Permit movement and stabilize the spine

What is the name of the ligament on the posterior aspect of the spine that runs from the posterior regions of the vertebral bodies?

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Brachial Plexus injuries occur when the shoulder is ____________ and the neck is ______________.

Pressed downward; forced into a stretch in the opposite direction

When one vertebra slips forward on the vertebra below it it's called what?

Spondylolisthesis (2)

What is often described as a stress fracture or bone degeneration of the vertebrae, specifically at the location referred to as the pars interarticularis?

Spondylolysis

What muscle is responsible for cervical side bending and rotation?

Sternocleidomastoid Muscle

Which muscle is attached to the top of the sternum and runs up the neck attaching to the mastoid process just behind the ear?

Sternocleidomastoid Muscle (2)

What is a brachial plexus injury often called?

Stinger or Burner

What is the thin ligament on the posterior aspect of the spine?

Supraspinous Ligament

What ligaments (there are two) support the vertebral segments as the as the spine flexes?

Supraspinous Ligament & Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

What is the name of the ligament that passes from the tip of one spinous process to another?

Supraspinous Ligament (2)

What steps can a person take to prevent poor postural habits?

• Imagine balloons are attached to your head and are pulling you upright • Alternate carrying your book bag or gym bag on opposite shoulders • Stay fit and exercise regularly

The bones of the spine are separated by _______ and held together by ________.

Disks, Ligaments

What often results from a combination of excessive neck flexion and rotation?

Dislocation of the cervical vertebra

What is proper lifting technique?

Maintaining a slight curve in the lumbar spine while lifting with the knees and hips rather than the spine and keep the head up

What is the most common location for Spondylolisthesis?

5th Lumbar Vertebra slipping forward on the first sacral vertebra

According to the NATA position statement, what is the key mechanism for catastrophic injuries in football?

Axial Loading

Why can an injury to the spine be life threatening?

Because it protects the spinal cord

Each vertebra is made up of what parts?

Body, Spinous Process, and canal through which the spinal cord passes

What is the network of nerves that exit the cervical spine and run through the shoulder and down the arm?

Brachial Plexus

When the brachial plexus gets stretched, what does the athlete feel?

Burning, Tingling, Numbness, and Stinging sensations in the arm and shoulder

How many bones are in each section of the spine?

Cervical - 7 Thoracic - 12 Lumbar - 5 Sacral - 5

What can be done for a treatment for disk bulges of the cervical spine in addition to improving neck posture and exercises?

Cervical Traction

Bone injuries to the cervical spine include fractures and dislocations, which can have what?

Devastating results including permanent disabilities and death

What injury do people often incorrectly refer to as a slipped disk?

Disk Bulge

Cervical sprains are usually the result of what?

Hyperextension or Hyperflexion of the neck

What do back supports do?

Increase the pressure around the spine and decrease the amount of stress to the vertebrae

What is the name of the ligament that runs on each side of the spine from the transverse process above to the one below?

Intertransverse Ligament

What lies between the vertebrae to absorb shock and resist compression during activity?

Intervertebral disks

The spine has many muscles attached at various points that extend to the pelvis, legs, and arms. What do these muscles do?

Keep the spine stable we perform tasks such as throwing, catching, and kicking

Excessive roundness of the thoracic spine is called what?

Kyphosis

Too much forward curvature at the lumbar spine is called what?

Lordosis

Most spinal cord injuries are in what regions?

Lumbar and Cervical

What other muscles besides the abdominals should also be strengthened? Why?

Muscles around the hip because the hip directly influences the spine

The spine should have a normal curvature at each of these areas and normal alignment where the spinal curves of the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical region are curved just right and the spine is comfortable is known as what?

Neutral Spine

If the athlete is wearing a helmet and you suspect a cervical spine injury should you remove the helmet? Why or why not?

No, attempting to remove it may cause excessive movement of the neck which could lead to further damage

What are the functions of the bony spinal column?

Protecting the spinal cord, holding the body upright for walking, and serving as a site for muscular attachments

What abdominal muscles are especially crucial for supporting trunk movement?

Rectus abdominus and internal and external obliques

Which bones are fused together?

Sacral

What are the four segments of the spine?

Sacrum, Lumbar, Thoracic, and Cervical

What muscles are responsible for cervical flexion?

Scalene Muscles

What muscles attach to the cervical vertebrae and run down to the first and second ribs?

Scalene Muscles (2)

What muscles also help with the breathing process?

Scalene Muscles (3)

What's it called when the spine is curved from side to side?

Scoliosis

How long does the pain from a brachial plexus injury last?

Seconds, minutes, or even weeks

Why is it incorrect to call it a slipped disk?

The disk is attached to the body of the vertebra and rarely slips forward or backward

Why do the disks of the spine not have the same healing potentials as other tissues of the body?

The disks of the spine do not receive any blood supply

What is a disk bulge?

The jellylike nucleus pulposus at the center of the disk pushes through the rings of cartilage and when it presses against the outer layer it causes it to bulge

What muscle extends the cervical spine attaches to the occipital bone and fans out to each side of the neck before attaching to the acromion process of the scapula?

Upper Trapezius

What are the bones of the cervical spine called?

Vertebrae

Because the disks are compressible, what happens to our height?

We are slightly taller first thing in the morning than later in the day and in old age we will become shorter

When do sprains at the lumbar joints commonly occur?

When athletes are forced into excessive trunk flexion or attempt to flex the spine and rotate at the same time

What is an axial load?

When force is applied to the head while the head is lowered into flexion

How should football players tackle?

With the shoulders while positioning the head in an upward position