Steemit Learning Challenge-S21W6: Physical Therapy Intervention: Disc Herniation

Hello, everyone; we are here to share the contest for week 6, the final week of Steemit Learning Challenge season 21. I am grateful to all the users who participated in all weeks and supported my course, and thankful to the Steemit team for this opportunity. I invite all the users to share their unique participation and try to gain maximum grades to get selected as the winner of the Steemit Engagement Challenge season 21, week 6.

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Disc Herniation

Disc Herniation is a condition that occurs more commonly in the geriatric population (which means old age people), in which age-related wear and tear occur. In disc herniation also known as slipped disc, there are 2 components annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus, in this condition nucleus pulposus is a soft gel-like structure in the center of the spinal disc tear and then bulge out that causes reduced in disc space and further wear & tear started.

Due to this, it also compress the surrounding structures like nerves, muscles, tendon and ligaments. But most commonly are nerve compression especially sciatic nerve. Till I have found out that the most common cause of it is sedentary lifestyle in young ages and then started excessive work in old age that puts pressure on the discs like wrong posture while picking things or lifting heavy weight and many more causes.

Types

There are 3 types of disc herniation on the level of the region involve;

• Cervical Disc Herniation
  • If cervical region is involved and age-related wear & tear occur. C1-C7 vertebrae ( C1-C8 nerves)
• Thoracic Disc Herniation
  • If thoracic region or upper back involve T1-T12
• Lumbar Disc Herniation ( most common)
  • If lumbar region or lower back involve L1-L5

Causes

The common causes of disc herniation are below:

• Overuse or repetitive pressure especially on lumbar region (lower back)
• Age-related wear
• Obese or overweight patients
• Wrong posture while lifting heavy objects or picking from the ground.
• Genetics (the disease running from generation to generation)

Symptoms

The common symptoms shown in disc herniation patients are:

• Back Pain (more common lower back pain in lumbar region)
• Sciatica (pain following the path of sciatic nerve from back of buttocks, thighs, leg and in severe cases foot too)
• Cervical ( neck pain) & arm pain if cervical region discs involve.
• Numbness & tingling sensation due to nerve compression.
• Weakness either in upper body like arms, neck and lower body in thigh, legs, foot.

Diagnosis

Disc Herniation diagnosis can be made by different methods, but commonly used are imaging tests like X-ray to check any overgrowth of bone, disc space reduction, MRI to assess the ligaments or muscles affected, also nerve compression due to slipped disc, physical examination and past medical history or family history taking as it is important for diagnosis of any patient.

Special Tests

In physiotherapy, we perform some special tests to confirm the diagnosis.

##Cervical Region:

• For cervical region, we perform the the special tests cervical flexion, extension test, spurling's test, cervical compression test, cervical rotation, apprehension test ( shoulder instability).

• For thoracic region, schober's test (assessing thoracic flexion, and limitations), thoracic spine extension test, rotation test (pain assessment, pain provocation, and rotation).

• For lumbar region, straight leg raise, femoral nerve stretch, lumbar flexion, extension test and valsalva test.

Physical Therapy Intervention for Disc Herniation (lumbar region)

Physical therapy interventions for disc herniation (lumbar region) for weeks to months to regain normal range of motion or performing activities of daily living and subside the symptoms. Here are a few exercise videos that you have to perform to treat disc herniation patients. Treatment protocol vary from patient to patient.

But the main thing is you have to evaluate the exact cause of disc herniation either it's due to overgrowth of bone or age related wear and tear. We can treat this condition symptomatically not completely. I am sharing the exercises of lumbar disc herniation because it's most common type and secondly we can't cover 3 regions in one lesson as it would be difficult for all students.