Deck 14: The Spine: Structure, function, and Posture

Question 1

Spinal stability is provided by:

A) Elasticity of passive restraints.
B) Interaction of passive restraints and muscle control.
C) Interaction of muscle control modulated by the central nervous system and passive restraints.
D) Muscle activity maintaining balance in the neutral zone.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The difference between a lordotic posture and a slouched posture is:

A) Only the lordotic posture has lumbar lordosis.
B) Flexion in the upper lumbar and lower thoracic spine with the slouched posture.
C) Extension of the pelvis on the femurs with the lordotic posture.
D) There is no difference;both affect the pelvis and lumbar spine the same way.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Your patient has a forward head posture.On testing (supine-lying),she cannot isolate capital flexion to lift her head when you ask her to flex her neck.Passively you can move the head about 5 ^$\circ$ into capital flexion and then feel tissue resistance.Based on these supine tests,what muscles are tight and what muscles are weak?

A) Tight suboccipital muscles and weak longus capitis and longus colli muscles
B) Tight erector spinae and weak sternocleidomastoid muscles
C) Tight splenius capitis and splenius cervicis muscles and weak multifidus muscles
D) Tight erector spinae and weak suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles

Answer 3

Tight suboccipital muscles and weak longus capitis and longus colli muscles

Question 4

Your patient describes having a backache that began after a vigorous bout of exercise.The pain was not noticed until he rested for about hour in a lounge chair.This pain is probably due to:

A) Overuse.
B) Fatigue.
C) Mechanical deformation.
D) Muscle tear.

Question 5

The anterior pillar of the spine:

A) Consists of the vertebral bodies and the vertebral arches.
B) Includes the sternum and the 12 pairs of ribs.
C) Is the weight-bearing portion of the spinal column.
D) Provides the gliding mechanism for movement.

Question 6

Motion at a functional unit of the spine is defined by what is occurring with the:

A) Anterior portion of the body of the superior vertebrae.
B) Anterior portion of the body of the inferior vertebrae.
C) Spinous process of the superior vertebrae.
D) Spinous process of the inferior vertebrae.

Question 7

A sustained faulty posture that stresses the ligamentous or joint structures usually results in:

A) Diffuse pain that is relieved when the mechanical stress is stopped.
B) Diffuse pain that is relieved with pain medication.
C) Sharp pain that cannot be relieved until the tissue heals.
D) Sharp pain that changes in intensity as the posture changes.

Question 8

Your patient describes increased pain in the back in the morning before getting out of bed.The patient should be:

A) Advised to never sleep prone.
B) Evaluated as to the sleeping posture and advised in mechanically safe adaptations.
C) Advised to sleep with a pillow under her knees if she tends to sleep supine.
D) Advised to place a board under a soft mattresses.

Question 9

Characteristics of the global muscles in the spine include all of the following except:

A) Provide dynamic stability to each segment in the spine.
B) Prime movers of the spine.
C) Multisegmental guy wires.
D) Control spinal orientation in response to external loads.

Question 10

A flatback posture:

A) Is the best posture for a healthy spine.
B) Is typically associated with tight hip flexor muscles.
C) Reduces the shock-absorbing function of the spinal curves.
D) Should be the goal of all back-rehabilitation programs.

Question 11

The spinal muscles that are activated first with rapid arm movements are the:

A) Erector spinae and rectus abdominis.
B) Internal and external obliques.
C) Multifidus and internal obliques.
D) Transversus abdominis and multifidus.

Question 12

Your patient complains of cervical pain and headaches.You notice that she has a forward head and round back posture.The complaints could be derived from all of the following except:

A) Impingement on the neurovascular bundle from anterior scalene muscle tightness.
B) Increased tension in the muscles of mastication.
C) Irritation of the facet joints in the upper cervical spine.
D) Impingement of the suboccipital nerves.

Question 13

Your patient describes posterior cervical pain and headaches that get progressively worse throughout each workday.She is a computer programmer,plays tennis on the weekends,and is an aerobic walker in the evenings.Your evaluation reveals a person who is physically fit with well-balanced flexibility and strength.Your treatment emphasis will be:

A) Stretching the short suboccipital muscles,levator,and scalene muscles.
B) Teaching tension-reducing postures and modification of chair,desk,and computer height.
C) Teaching proper warm-up exercises and progressing her aerobic program to running.
D) Changing her sleeping posture and pillow height.

Question 14

To teach a patient how to manage painful symptoms related to poor posture,which of the following is most important?

A) Awareness of the relationship between the faulty posture and pain
B) Stretching program
C) Strengthening program
D) High-repetition,low-resistance exercise program

Question 15

All of the following are true of the nucleus pulposus except:

A) It is the axis of motion for the functional units of the spine.
B) It takes on and/or releases water in response to compressive loads.
C) It is centrally aligned within the annulus fibrosis at all levels of the spine to provide uniform shock absorption.
D) It is covered superiorly and inferiorly by a cartilaginous endplate.