Musculoskeletal
Cervical (Neck) Pain is a very common problem with nearly two-thirds of the US population experiencing some sort of neck pain. Defining the precise cause of neck pain can be difficult, however the cause of musculoskeletal pain can often be defined in two categories such as Non-Traumatic and Traumatic. It is very important to ask your patient before any assessment if they have been in any type of accident such as a motor vehicle accident or fall. This can result in traumatic pain including cervical spine instability, fractures, or whiplash. Non-Traumatic pain can be defined in terms of degenerative changes, pain due to poor posture and muscle shortening, scalene myofascial pain syndrome, and torticollis. Poor posture does play a very big role in neck pain due to increased deskwork and having a sedentary lifestyle. Neck pain is commonly of a multifactorial etiology.
Musculoskeletal Signs and Symptom
If trauma is suspected the Canadian Cervical Spine Rules and the NEXUS Criteria are good references to use in determining if the patient should receive radiographs.
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Canadian C-Spine Rules
NEXUS Criteria
Musculoskeletal Signs and Symptom
- Often unilateral and may be associated with scapular pain
- Often no parethesias
- Pain can range from mild to severe
- Tenderness upon palpation of the involved muscles
- Decreased ROM and often times painful
- Decreased flexion and Contralateral rotation with flexion is common
If trauma is suspected the Canadian Cervical Spine Rules and the NEXUS Criteria are good references to use in determining if the patient should receive radiographs.
Click to go to References:
Canadian C-Spine Rules
NEXUS Criteria
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