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Rats expressing human cytosolic copper-zinc superoxide dismutase transgenes with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: associated mutations develop motor neuron disease.

Some cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are caused by mutations in the gene encoding cytosolic, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1). We report here that rats that express a human SOD1 transgene with two different ALS-associated mutations (G93A and H46R) develop striking motor neuron degeneration and paralysis. As in the human disease and transgenic ALS mice, pathological analysis demonstrates selective loss of motor neurons in the spinal cords of these transgenic rats. In spinal cord tissues, this is accompanied by activation of apoptotic genes known to be activated by mutant SOD1 protein in vitro and in vivo. These animals provide additional support for the proposition that motor neuron death in SOD1-related ALS reflects one or more acquired, neurotoxic properties of the mutant SOD1 protein. The larger size of this rat model as compared with the ALS mice will facilitate studies involving manipulations of spinal fluid (implantation of intrathecal catheters for chronic therapeutic studies; CSF sampling) and spinal cord (e.g., direct administration of viral- and cell-mediated therapies).

Amino Acid Substitution↗

[Arteriovenous malformations of the cervical spinal cord--with special reference to CT study].

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the cervical spinal cord has been known to constitute 5-13% of all spinal AVMs. In contrast to the AVMs located in thoracic or thoraco-lumbar regions, cervical AVM has several characteristic features such as preponderance in younger generation, high incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage, intramedullary location of the nidus usually fed by the anterior spinal arterial system. We reported three cases of cervical AVMs, which located intramedullary at the levels of C4-C6, C1-C4 and C1-C2, respectively. Although selective angiography (vertebral artery, thyrocervical artery, costocervical artery) was essential for the diagnosis of these lesions, computerized tomographic (CT) study with both intrathecal injection of metrizamide and intravenous infusion of contrast material (dynamic and static study) was found to be extremely advantageous in detecting the topography of AVMs in the concerned horizontal planes of the spinal cord. Removal of AVM was given up in one case because of its possible involvement of the anterior spinal artery and central artery shown by CT scan. Removal of AVMs were performed in other two cases. A lateral approach was tried in one case with the AVM located in C1-C2 level, in which CT scan revealed not only an intramedullary but the associated extramedullary AVM in ventrolateral surface of the spinal cord. This operative approach was found to involve less bone removal and markedly reduce spinal cord manipulation necessary to deal with ventrally situated high cervical lesions, compared with a posterior approach with laminectomy.

Adult↗

Pronociceptive effects of spinal dynorphin promote cannabinoid-induced pain and antinociceptive tolerance.

Recent studies indicate that sustained opioid administration produces increased expression of spinal dynorphin, which promotes enhanced sensitivity to non-noxious and noxious stimuli. Such increased "pain" may manifest behaviorally as a decrease in spinal antinociceptive potency. Here, the possibility of similar mechanisms in the antinociception of spinal cannabinoids was explored. Response thresholds to non-noxious mechanical and noxious thermal stimuli were assessed. Antinociception was determined using the 52 degrees C tail-flick test. Mice received repeated WIN 55,212-2, its inactive enantiomer, WIN 55,212-3 or vehicle (i.th., bid, 5 days). WIN 55,212-2, but not WIN 55,212-3 or vehicle, produced a time-related increased sensitivity to non-noxious and noxious stimuli. WIN 55,212-2, but not WIN 55,212-3 or vehicle, elicited a significant increase in lumbar spinal dynorphin content at treatment day 5. Increased sensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli produced by WIN 55,212-2 was reversed to baseline levels by i.th. MK-801 or dynorphin antiserum; control serum had no effect. WIN 55,212-2, but not WIN 55,212-3 or vehicle, produced dose-related antinociception and repeated administration resulted in antinociceptive tolerance. While MK-801 and dynorphin antiserum did not alter acute antinociception produced by WIN 55,212-2, these substances significantly blocked antinociceptive tolerance when given immediately prior to WIN 55,212-2 challenge on day 5. Daily MK-801 pretreatments, prior to WIN 55,212-2 injection, also produced a significant block of antinociceptive tolerance. These data suggest that like opioids, repeated spinal administration of a cannabinoid CB1 agonist elicits abnormal pain, which results in increased expression of spinal dynorphin. Manipulations that block cannabinoid-induced pain also block the behavioral manifestation of cannabinoid tolerance.

Analgesics↗

[Acupuncture and other forms of treatment for patients with chronic back pain].

As in all pain sites, one has to distinguish between acute and chronic pain in spinal pain syndromes. The treatment of chronic spinal pain is dominated by non-operative procedures. There are three main procedures in this field of treatment: the manual medicine, the therapeutic application of local anesthetics and acupuncture. By manual techniques the pain-producing spinal structures can be recognized and these techniques offer at the same time sufficient treatment options to the patients. Therefore, manual therapeutic strategies are applied at first in a treatment session followed by the therapeutical application of local anesthetics. With this treatment the pain-producing spinal sites are directly influenced with the aim of blocking the nociceptors. Acupuncture is the last step of the treatment cascade in out patients in any case, because acupuncture does not only serve as treatment option for pain relief, but also and even more so has an harmonizing effect upon physical and psychological disturbances. It is absolutely necessary for the patient to lie down for 25 to 30 minutes to reach these goals. More invasive methods are offered to patients unsuccessfully treated by the described methods. These are: X-ray conducted periradicular infiltration, epidural blockades with local anesthetics and steroids, hiatus sacralis blockade, percutaneous radiofrequency denervation of the facet joint and percutaneous lumbar radiofrequency sympathicotomy. The indications for these treatment modalities are discussed as well as technical details regarding the performance. Disc herniation with radicular symptoms, spinal canal stenosis, cervical stenotic myelopathy and degenerative spinal instability may represent indications for surgical intervention. The symptomatology of these diseases is described. The indications for the individual cases and circumstances are discussed. Lastly, the various operative techniques are also described shortly.

Acupressure↗

Sources of variation in spinal indentation testing: indentation site relocation, intraabdominal pressure, subject movement, muscular response, and stiffness estimation.

BACKGROUND: Force-displacement properties of spinal tissues assessed by blunt indentation are thought to have clinical relevance; however, numerous variables with respect to spinal indentation have yet to be identified or characterized completely. OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify, where possible, previously unidentified or incompletely characterized variables with respect to spinal indentation. DESIGN: Multiprotocol design. METHODS: Four experiments were performed: (1) Twelve asymptomatic subjects were indented with concurrent electromyography during conditions of rest, held inspiration, increased intraabdominal pressure and lumbar extension. (2) Changes in the recumbent position of 12 subjects were measured while a series of movements was performed in restrained and unrestrained conditions. (3) Ten clinicians attempted to locate, and to relocate, a subcutaneous anatomical landmark through visualization/palpation and ultrasonic imaging. (4) Performances of 3 methods of force-displacement curve modeling were compared with respect to stiffness estimation. RESULTS: (1) Spinal stiffness increased significantly in a minority of subjects awaiting indentation and in a majority of subjects during increases in intraabdominal pressure. (2) Changes in subject position were significantly reduced by a restraint system. (3) With respect to interclinician error in locating and relocating an indentation site, there was significant improvement with the use of ultrasonic visualization. (4) The error associated with linear techniques used to model curvilinear force-displacement data plots increased with increasing linear intervals. CONCLUSION: Several sources of variation in spinal indentation were identified: indentation site relocation, intraabdominal pressure, subject movement, muscular response, and stiffness estimation. These variables, which have been unaccounted for in previous indentation studies, might be responsible for the change or lack of change in force-displacement properties between preintervention and postintervention indentation trials.

Adult↗

Changes in transcranial motor evoked potentials during intramedullary spinal cord tumor resection correlate with postoperative motor function.

OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative monitoring of transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) has been investigated recently as a means of preventing motor deficits associated with resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs). In this study, we hypothesized that changes in the intraoperative MEPs during tumor resection correlate with postoperative motor function deficits. METHODS: A retrospective record review was conducted for 28 patients who underwent resection of an IMSCT using myogenic or muscle-recorded TcMEPs during a 44-month period. Intraoperative MEP recordings and results from preoperative, immediate postoperative, and subsequent follow-up neurological examinations were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 28 patients who underwent resection of an IMSCT using TcMEPs, MEP changes occurred in 13 patients (46%). Impaired motor conduction was detected by changes in pattern and duration of the MEP waveform morphology (polyphasic to biphasic in 9 patients and polyphasic to biphasic to loss of MEP response in 5 patients, 1 patient demonstrated both changes) and by an increase in voltage threshold (median, 175 V; range, 100-225 V; n = 22 extremities). Alterations in morphology and reduction in duration of the MEP response persisted despite significant increases in stimulation voltage. In 12 patients, reductions in the complexity and/or loss of the TcMEP waveform correlated with motor grade loss in the immediate postoperative period (P < 0.0001), at discharge (P < 0.001), and at follow-up (P < 0.001). The decrease in the duration of the response correlated with motor grade loss immediately after surgery (P < 0.001), at discharge (P < 0.0001), and at follow-up (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: These results support the application of distal muscle-recorded TcMEPs to predict the occurrence and severity of postoperative motor deficits during resection of IMSCTs. Attention to such quantitative intraoperative monitoring data may help to minimize postoperative motor deficits by avoiding or correcting excessive spinal cord manipulation and modifying surgical technique during tumor resection.

Adult↗

Anaesthesia for surgical correction of scoliosis with spinal cord monitoring--a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To share our experience of anaesthetic management of scoliosis with intra-operative somatosensory evoked potential monitoring and wake up test. METHODS: All the cases of scoliosis surgery scheduled during a period of two years in which SSEP and intra-operative wake-up test was planned were included in the study. The patient in which intra-operative wake-up test was not planned were excluded from this case series. RESULTS: We managed a series of sixteen cases of scoliosis in our hospital. Eleven patients were female and five were male with the age ranging from six to twenty two years. SSEPs were monitored throughout the procedure and wake up test was done intra-operatively after surgical manipulation of spinal cord. Intra-operative wake-up test was completed successfully in all the patients. None of the patients had any neurological damage and were also successfully extubated at the end of procedure. CONCLUSION: Intra-operative wake up test and SSEP monitoring are reliable methods for detection of intra-operative spinal cord ischemia during scoliosis surgery.

Adolescent↗

Caudal spinal cord ischemia after lumbar vertebral manipulation.

Neurological complications after lumbar spine manipulation are uncommon. The cause is usually a herniated disk or displaced bony structure. We report a case of paraplegia that developed a few hours after manipulation of the lumbar spine. Magnetic resonance imaging was consistent with ischemia of the caudal spinal cord. No disk fragment or bony structure impinging on the spinal cord was seen. Spinal cord ischemia may deserve to be added to the list of possible adverse events after lumbar spine manipulation.

Cauda Equina↗

Management of back pain.

PURPOSE: Low back pain (LBP) constitutes one of the most difficult and costly medical problems in industrial countries, with a prevalence of 25 to 30% in an adult lifetime span and an incidence of about 5% per year. METHOD: Based on risk factors cited in the pertinent literature, the evaluation, diagnosis and therapeutic options for LBP are outlined. Especially the latter can be highlighted on the basis of a large number of systematic reviews. RESULTS: Bed rest is no longer regarded as an effective treatment for episodes of acute LBP, except when the patient has evident clinical signs of nerve root compression. Exercise therapy comprises a wide range of concepts and underlying physiological principles. Different concepts are discussed. Evidence suggests no specific effects of exercise therapy in acute LBP. In chronic LBP, exercise as well as combined treatment with several modalities appear to be superior to conventional medical care. In the past decade, reconditioning of the paraspinal muscles is being given increasing importance in research. Several studies indicate the effectiveness of vigorous strengthening of paraspinal and trunk muscles on pain and even disc surgery. Different underlying pathologies seem to respond equally well to this concept. Back school concepts are not proven to have long-term effects on LBP. The literature on electrotherapy and massage in LBP is generally sparse. Nevertheless, some studies suggest the effectiveness of electrotherapy on pain reduction at least in the short term. Spinal mobilization seems to be effective in reducing pain. CONCLUSION: Based on these evidence-based conclusions, the patient's medical history, the investigation and the diagnosis the clinician has to devise an individual treatment plan that takes the deficiencies and requirements of the patient into account.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

Reproducibility and repeatability: errors of three groups of physiotherapists in locating spinal levels by palpation.

Location of spinal levels by palpation is an essential part of physiotherapy assessment and treatment of spinal musculoskeletal conditions. This study aimed to (i) investigate the reproducibility and repeatability of three groups of physiotherapists in locating three randomly selected spinal levels by palpation, (ii) explore whether these groups were palpating similar points at each level, and (iii) investigate whether there were differences in palpation across the spinal levels tested. Reproducibility was estimated using a convenience sample of 30 physiotherapists: 13 undergraduate students, 10 clinicians, and seven manual therapists (MTs). Repeatability was investigated using six physiotherapists (two students, two clinicians and two MTs). Each therapist palpated the spinous processes (C5, T6, L5) once for reproducibility, and 10 times for repeatability, on each asymptomatic model. The skin overlying the spinal levels was marked with an invisible pen. Using an ultra-violet light, marks were transcribed onto transparent plastic strips for analysis, and the distances were measured with an electronic caliper. Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) indicated poor reproducibility across therapists at all spinal levels (F=18.43, P=0.001), but good repeatability within therapists (F=2.09, P=0.161). Students produced different mean locations of their palpatory marks from the other two groups in two spinal levels. Clinicians and MTs were more reproducible than students, and located similar levels. Palpation of L5 spinous process presented the most difficulty, for all groups. Further research is needed to compare different methods of palpation and explore whether reproducibility can be improved.

Adult↗

Magnitude estimation of manually assessed elastic stiffness: stability of the exponent.

Magnitude estimations were obtained for manual assessments of pure elastic stiffness stimuli (metal springs). 20 subjects of varied experience in manual assessment of spinal stiffness volunteered to participate. The mean exponent of the power function relating perceived magnitude of elastic stiffness to measured physical magnitude was 1.65. Exponents varied across the 20 individuals but were stable across testing sessions held at least 2 weeks apart, and the size of the exponent was not related to prior experience.

Adult↗

A review of biomechanics of the central nervous system--Part I: spinal canal deformations resulting from changes in posture.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss how the spinal cord deforms as a result of changes in posture or biomechanical alterations of the spine. DATA COLLECTION: A hand search of available reference texts and a computer search of literature from the Index Medicus sources were collected, with special emphasis placed on spinal canal changes caused by various postural rotations and translations of the skull, thorax, and pelvis. RESULTS: All spinal postures will deform the spinal canal. Flexion causes a small increase in canal diameter and volume as the vertebral lamina are separated. Extension causes a small decrease in canal diameter and volume as the vertebral lamina are approximated. Lateral bending and axial rotation cause insignificant changes in spinal canal diameter and volume in cases without stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Rotations of the global postural components, head, thoracic cage, and pelvis cause changes in the diameter of the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen. These changes are generally a reduction of less than 1.5 mm in extension, compared with a small increase in flexion of approximately 1 mm. These small changes do not account for the clinical observation of patients having increased neurologic signs and symptoms in flexion.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Manual forces applied during posterior-to-anterior spinal mobilization: a review of the evidence.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to evaluate the evidence for the consistency of force application by manual therapists when carrying out posterior-to-anterior (PA) mobilization techniques, including the factors that influence the application and measurement of mobilization forces. METHODS: Studies were identified by searching 6 electronic databases up to April 2005, screening the reference lists of retrieved articles, and contacting experts by e-mail. Relevant articles were defined as those that described the measurement of forces applied during spinal mobilization or discussed the reliability of measurement of manual forces. RESULTS: Twenty studies described the quantitative measurement of applied force during a PA mobilization technique, with most focusing on the lumbar spine. When defined by magnitude, frequency, amplitude, and displacement, PA mobilization forces are extremely variable among clinicians applying the same manual technique. Variability may be attributed to differences in techniques, measurement or reporting procedures, or variations between therapists or between patients. CONCLUSIONS: The inconsistency in manual force application during PA spinal mobilization in existing studies suggests that further studies are needed to improve the clinical standardization of manual force application. Future research on mobilization should include forces applied to the cervical and thoracic spines in addition to the lumbar spine while thoroughly describing force parameters and measurement methods to facilitate comparison between studies.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

Cost effectiveness of physiotherapy, manual therapy, and general practitioner care for neck pain: economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of physiotherapy, manual therapy, and care by a general practitioner for patients with neck pain. DESIGN: Economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care. PARTICIPANTS: 183 patients with neck pain for at least two weeks recruited by 42 general practitioners and randomly allocated to manual therapy (n=60, spinal mobilisation), physiotherapy (n=59, mainly exercise), or general practitioner care (n=64, counselling, education, and drugs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical outcomes were perceived recovery, intensity of pain, functional disability, and quality of life. Direct and indirect costs were measured by means of cost diaries that were kept by patients for one year. Differences in mean costs between groups, cost effectiveness, and cost utility ratios were evaluated by applying non-parametric bootstrapping techniques. RESULTS: The manual therapy group showed a faster improvement than the physiotherapy group and the general practitioner care group up to 26 weeks, but differences were negligible by follow up at 52 weeks. The total costs of manual therapy (447 euro; 273 pounds sterling; 402 dollars) were around one third of the costs of physiotherapy (1297 euro) and general practitioner care (1379 euro). These differences were significant: P<0.01 for manual therapy versus physiotherapy and manual therapy versus general practitioner care and P=0.55 for general practitioner care versus physiotherapy. The cost effectiveness ratios and the cost utility ratios showed that manual therapy was less costly and more effective than physiotherapy or general practitioner care. CONCLUSIONS: Manual therapy (spinal mobilisation) is more effective and less costly for treating neck pain than physiotherapy or care by a general practitioner.

Absenteeism↗

The relationship between lumbar segmental motion and pain response produced by a posterior-to-anterior force in persons with nonspecific low back pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between lumbar segmental motion and pain response during the application of a posterior-to-anterior (PA) force to the lumbar spinous processes in persons with nonspecific low back pain. BACKGROUND: Although low back pain is believed to be associated with altered segmental motion of the lumbar spine, the relationship between subjective reports of pain and objective measurements of segmental motion has not been established. METHODS AND MEASURES: Thirty-five individuals between 18 and 45 years of age with nonspecific low back pain (less than 3 months' duration) participated. All subjects participated in 2 separate procedures: (1) segmental motion assessment during a PA force application over the lumbar spinous processes using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and (2) pain assessment during a PA force application procedure outside of the MRI environment. Frequency counts were used to determine the lumbar segments that were most painful, and which functional spinal units had the most and least motion. Fisher exact tests were performed to determine if an association existed between the most painful segment and the functional spinal unit with the most or least motion. RESULTS: L5 was deemed the most painful segment in nearly half of the participants (48.1%). The L1-2 and L3-4 functional spinal units most frequently had the most motion (25.9% each) and the L4-5 functional spinal units most frequently had the least motion (29.6%). No association was found between the most painful segment and the functional spinal units with either the most or least motion. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that an assumption regarding segmental motion cannot be inferred from the pain response when using a PA force application procedure.

Adolescent↗

Stiffness and neuromuscular reflex response of the human spine to posteroanterior manipulative thrusts in patients with low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Studies investigating posteroanterior (PA) forces in spinal stiffness assessment have shown relationships to spinal level, body type, and lumbar extensor muscle activity. Such measures may be important determinants in discriminating between patients who are asymptomatic and those who have low back pain. However, little objective evidence is available concerning variations in PA stiffness and their clinical significance. Moreover, although several studies have assessed only load input in relation to stiffness, a more complete assessment based on dynamic stiffness measurements (force/velocity) and concomitant neuromuscular response may offer more information concerning mechanical properties of the low back. OBJECTIVE: To determine the stiffness and neuromuscular characteristics of the symptomatic low back. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a prospective clinical study investigating the in vivo mechanical and muscular behavior of human lumbar spinal segments to high loading rate PA manipulative thrusts in research subjects with low back pain (LBP). METHODS: Twelve men and 10 women, aged 15 to 73 years (mean age of 42.8 +/- 17.5 years) underwent physical examination and completed outcome assessment instruments, including Visual Analog Scale, Oswestry Low Back Disability Index, and SF-36 health status questionnaires. Clinical categorization was made on the basis of symptom frequency and LBP history. A hand-held spinal manipulation device, equipped with a preload control frame and impedance head, was used to deliver high-rate (<0.1 millisecond) PA manipulative thrusts (190 N) to several common spinal landmarks, including the ilium, sacral base, and L5, L4, L2, T12, and T8 spinous and transverse processes. Surface, linear-enveloped, electromyographic (sEMG) recordings were obtained from electrodes (8 leads) located over the L3 and L5 paraspinal musculature to monitor the bilateral neuromuscular activity of the erector spinae group during the PA thrusts. Maximal-effort isometric trunk extensions were performed by the research subjects before and immediately after the testing protocol to normalize sEMG data. The accelerance or stiffness index (peak acceleration/peak force, kg-1) and composite sEMG neuromuscular reflex response were calculated for each of the thrusts. RESULTS: Posteroanterior stiffness obtained at the sacroiliac joints, transverse processes, or spinous processes was not different for subjects grouped according to LBP chronicity. However, in those with frequent or constant LBP symptoms, there was a significantly increased spinous process (SP) stiffness index (7.0 kg-1) (P <.05) in comparison with SP stiffness index (6.5 kg-1) of subjects with only occasional or no LBP symptoms. Subjects with frequent or constant LBP symptoms also reported significantly greater scores on the visual analog scale (P =.001), Oswestry (P =.001), and perceived health status (P =.03) assessments. The average SP stiffness index was 6.6% greater (P <.05) and 19.1% greater (P <.001) than the average sacroiliac stiffness index and average transverse process stiffness index, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to assess erector spinae neuromuscular reflex responses simultaneously during spinal stiffness examination. This study demonstrated increased spinal stiffness index and positive neuromuscular reflex responses in subjects with frequent or constant LBP as compared with those reporting intermittent or no LBP.

Adolescent↗

A survey on the importance of lumbar coupling biomechanics in physiotherapy practice.

Knowledge of lumbar coupling biomechanics is foundational in many manual therapy disciplines. 3-D studies of lumbar coupling indicate that coupling direction may not be predictable. The purpose of this study was to investigate physiotherapists' perception of importance of lumbar coupling for validation of manual therapy, necessity in treatment, and perceived direction of lumbar coupling biomechanics. A sample of 369 physiotherapists within the United States volunteered to participate in this study. An ologit regression analysis investigated factors associated with perception of lumbar coupling. A Fleiss Kappa determined the agreement of coupling direction among physiotherapists. The majority of physiotherapists indicated that lumbar coupling biomechanics were important or very important, frequently used during treatment, and necessary for validation of manual therapy. The ologit regressions identified that the importance placed upon lumbar coupling biomechanics is highly related toward therapists' pre-concept of coupling. Kappa values for the five spinal segments were negative indicating worse than chance agreement: L1-2 = -0.10; L2-3 = -0.11; L3-4 = -0.09; L4-5 = -0.10; and L5-S1 = -0.09. The poor Kappa values, strong pre-conceptual perceptions of coupling necessity, and the importance placed upon lumbar coupling for treatment could lead to disparities among physiotherapists in lumbar manual therapy assessment and treatment.

Adult↗

[Cervicogenic proprioceptive vertigo: etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapy with special emphasis on manual therapy].

Cervical proprioceptive system (CPS) consisting of mechanoreceptors of cervical intervertebral joints, mechanoreceptors of neck muscles and ligament's insertions, muscle spindles located in deep short muscles of cervical spine and sensitive fibers connecting neck's proprioceptors with neurons of cornu posteriori of spinal cord, plays an essential part in maintaining bodily balance. CPS, via tractus spinovestibularis, is connected to vestibular nuclei. Clinical and neurophysiological studies have shown that functional disorders and/or organic lesions of CPS cause identical symptoms as vestibular diseases: vertigo, nystagmus and balance disorders. Dysfunction (functional blockade) of craniocervical joints is the most frequent cause of cervicogenic proprioceptive vertigo (CPV). The constant tension of the capsule of a blocked joint irritates mechanoreceptors protecting the joint's capsules. The increased activity of mechanoreceptors results in confusion of vestibular system. That is, the impulses from the blocked craniocervical joints do not correspond to the impulses from the vestibular organ and other sensory systems that take part in maintaining bodily balance. The disharmony of impulses results in an inadequate vestibulo-spinal and vestibulo-ocular reaction manifesting as vertigo and nystagmus. Hyperactivity of craniocervical mechanoreceptors also causes disturbances in reflex regulation of postural muscle tonus manifesting as "general instability". Knowledge of CPV as a separate clinical entity is important from diagnostical and therapeutical aspect. As it concerns a peripheral vestibular disorder still unknown to a wider circle of physicians, the article describes etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapy of CPV with special emphasis on manual therapy.

Cervical Vertebrae↗