Interpretation of cervical passive accessory intervertebral movements: From thumbs to outcomes

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Author(s)
Tuttle, Neil Alan
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2012
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PURPOSE: To describe the specific characteristics of passive accessory intervertebral
movements (PAIVMs) to the cervical spine that relate to patient
symptoms and segmental mobility.
RELEVANCE: PAIVMs are common manual therapy techniques. The interpretation
of PAIVM findings is often described using force-displacement
curves contained in movement diagrams, but it has not been clear what
aspects of the force-displacement curves are related to patient symptoms
or to intervertebral mobility.
DESCRIPTION: Contrary to the initial concepts of PAIVMs, the intervertebral
movements produced are neither accessory nor localized, but ...
View more >PURPOSE: To describe the specific characteristics of passive accessory intervertebral movements (PAIVMs) to the cervical spine that relate to patient symptoms and segmental mobility. RELEVANCE: PAIVMs are common manual therapy techniques. The interpretation of PAIVM findings is often described using force-displacement curves contained in movement diagrams, but it has not been clear what aspects of the force-displacement curves are related to patient symptoms or to intervertebral mobility. DESCRIPTION: Contrary to the initial concepts of PAIVMs, the intervertebral movements produced are neither accessory nor localized, but rather physiological and involve the entire cervical region. Nonetheless, specific, measurable characteristics of PAIVMs have been shown to be related to patient outcomes and to local tenderness. This paper will discuss how these specific characteristics compare to simulations using computer- based modeling. EVALUATION: Experimentally determined changes in PAIVMs at symptomatic locations that occur with symptom improvement are similar to differences between tender and less tender locations. The relevant differences are easier to visualize using stiffness-displacement curves than the forcedisplacement curves that are typically used in movement diagrams and become apparent at levels of force starting at less than those required to click a retractable pen (4-5 N). Computer-based modeling indicates that similar differences in PAIVM stiffness to those found in the clinical studies would be expected to occur with a reduced lax zone of the underlying motion segment. CONCLUSIONS: The behaviors of PAIVM stiffness related to patient symptoms (1) are more clearly visualized with stiffness curves than force-displacement curves, (2) occur from low levels of force, and (3) are consistent with a smaller lax zone at the underlying intervertebral motion segment. IMPLICATIONS: The early parts of PAIVM movements contain clinically important information. Simple linear approximations of force-displacement curves of PAIVMs may not be sufficient to detect the specific characteristics that are related to patient symptoms.
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View more >PURPOSE: To describe the specific characteristics of passive accessory intervertebral movements (PAIVMs) to the cervical spine that relate to patient symptoms and segmental mobility. RELEVANCE: PAIVMs are common manual therapy techniques. The interpretation of PAIVM findings is often described using force-displacement curves contained in movement diagrams, but it has not been clear what aspects of the force-displacement curves are related to patient symptoms or to intervertebral mobility. DESCRIPTION: Contrary to the initial concepts of PAIVMs, the intervertebral movements produced are neither accessory nor localized, but rather physiological and involve the entire cervical region. Nonetheless, specific, measurable characteristics of PAIVMs have been shown to be related to patient outcomes and to local tenderness. This paper will discuss how these specific characteristics compare to simulations using computer- based modeling. EVALUATION: Experimentally determined changes in PAIVMs at symptomatic locations that occur with symptom improvement are similar to differences between tender and less tender locations. The relevant differences are easier to visualize using stiffness-displacement curves than the forcedisplacement curves that are typically used in movement diagrams and become apparent at levels of force starting at less than those required to click a retractable pen (4-5 N). Computer-based modeling indicates that similar differences in PAIVM stiffness to those found in the clinical studies would be expected to occur with a reduced lax zone of the underlying motion segment. CONCLUSIONS: The behaviors of PAIVM stiffness related to patient symptoms (1) are more clearly visualized with stiffness curves than force-displacement curves, (2) occur from low levels of force, and (3) are consistent with a smaller lax zone at the underlying intervertebral motion segment. IMPLICATIONS: The early parts of PAIVM movements contain clinically important information. Simple linear approximations of force-displacement curves of PAIVMs may not be sufficient to detect the specific characteristics that are related to patient symptoms.
View less >
Conference Title
IFOMPT 2012 Rendez-vous of hands and Minds
Copyright Statement
© 2012 Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. Reproduced with permission of the Orthopaedic Section and the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Physiotherapy
Clinical Sciences
Human Movement and Sports Sciences