The cause of pain in the neck or pain in the arm coming from the neck can be accurately diagnosed by proper clinical examination. This requires knowledge of normal functional anatomy and understanding where pain can originate and what factors initiate the pain. The examination consists of testing for these abnormalities of motion and reproducing the symptoms by these motions. Weighing the history, both of trauma and indications of deep-seated tension or anxiety, against the conditions observed on physical examination, is important to correct diagnosis.Recognizing abnormal neck posture and activities reproducing pain in the neck and arm examination reveals the mechanism of pain. Treatment becomes evident.

Arm↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A review of biomechanics of the central nervous system--Part III: spinal cord stresses from postural loads and their neurologic effects.

OBJECTIVE: To review literature pertaining to neurologic disorders stemming from abnormal postures of the spine. DATA COLLECTION: A hand search of available reference texts and a computer search of literature from Index Medicus sources was performed, with special emphasis placed on spinal cord stresses and strains caused by various postural rotations and translations of the skull, thorax, and pelvis. RESULTS: Spinal postures will often deform the neural elements within the spinal canal. Spinal postures can be broken down into four types of loading: axial, pure bending, torsion, and transverse, which cause normal and shear stresses and strains in the neural tissues and blood vessels. Prolonged stresses and strains in the neural elements cause a multitude of disease processes. CONCLUSION: Four types of postural loads create a variety of stresses and strains in the neural tissue, depending on the exact magnitude and direction of the forces. Transverse loading is the most complex load. The stresses and strains in the neural elements and vascular supply are directly related to the function of the sensory, motor, and autonomic nervous systems. The literature indicates that prolonged loading of the neural tissue may lead to a wide variety of degenerative disorders or symptoms. The most offensive postural loading of the central nervous system and related structures occurs in any procedure or position requiring spinal flexion. Thus flexion traction, rehabilitation positions, exercises, spinal manipulation, and surgical fusions in any position other than lordosis for the cervical and lumbar spines should be questioned.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The maturation and aging of the vertebrae of marmosets.

This study deals with the growth, maturation, and age changes to the cartilaginous end-plates of vertebrae from marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) varying in age from birth to 10 years. The cartilaginous end-plate is divided into an inner growth layer and an outer articular zone that abuts against the intervertebral disc. The growth cartilage gradually narrows and disappears by 1 year of age, when the animal reaches physical maturity. The articular cartilage undergoes changes in collagen and ground substance that leads to its calcification. There was a progressive resorption of the calcified articular cartilage beginning at 3 years of age and continuing throughout the aging period. In the vertebrae of 8- and 10-year-old animals, only a thin layer of calcified cartilage separates the disc from the underlying bone.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vertebral end-plate changes with aging of human vertebrae.

The present study describes the sequential age changes within the growth and articular layers of the cartilaginous end-plates of vertebrae from humans varying in age from birth to 73 years. There is a gradual reduction in the width of the growth cartilage up to 16-20 years of age. During adulthood and progressing into old age (60-73 years), the end-plates consist of only articular cartilage which undergoes calcification followed by resorption and replacement by bone. Age changes are observed in the arterioles, capillaries, and venules found in the nutrient canals or spaces of the bone adjacent to the cartilage or disc. The calcification of the articular cartilage and vascular changes seen in the older vertebrae would impede the passage of nutrients from the blood to the disc proper. Collagen fibers are observed arising from the older vertebral end-plates to course into the midregion of the disc.

Adolescent↗