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PT623 Exam Two Questions and
Answers 100% Solved | Rated A+
What is the function of the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- protection of the vital
organs and the spinal cord
- provides stability via passive structures over mobility
What is the structure of the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- vertebral body height
smaller in the front and larger in the back to support kyphotic curve
- long, down sloping spinous processes
- small disc height meaning much less motion available
- facets lie largely in the frontal plane for side bending
What are the rib articulations? - ✔✔- articulate anteriorly with the sternum
and posteriorly with the thoracic spine via vertebral body and transverse
process
- costochondral joint
- costovertebral joint
- costotransverse joint
,©NINJANERD 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
How do you assess thoracic joint play? - ✔✔- when assessing a motion
segment, push on the transverse process of the vertebrae below
- example: assessing mobility of T5 segment, push transverse process of
T6 away from T5
What happens with flexion at the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- anterior tip and
anterior glide of interbody joint
- bilateral upglide of facet joints
- all posterior ligaments (interspinous, supraspinous, posterior longitudinal),
posterior aspect of disc, muscles, and facet joint capsule under tension
What happens with extension at the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- posterior tip and
posterior glide of interbody joint
- bilateral downglide of facet joints
- anterior ligaments, muscles, capsule, and disc under tension
What happens with side bending at the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- ipsilateral tip
and glide at interbody joint
- ipsilateral downglide and contralateral upglide of the facets
What happens with rotation at the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- pure rotation with
sliding of the facet joints
What is upper rib motion? - ✔✔- pump handle motion
,©NINJANERD 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
- increased anterior posterior diameter
What is lower rib motion? - ✔✔- bucket handle motion
- increased medial lateral diameter
What is the action of serratus anterior? - ✔✔- scapular protraction and
upward rotation
What is the action of levator scapulae? - ✔✔- elevation of scapula
What is the action of the rhomboids? - ✔✔- scapular retraction, elevation,
and downward rotation
What are the primary causes of thoracic / rib pain? - ✔✔- mechanical
thorax pain via thoracic or rib hypomobility, joint locking, or synovitis
- thoracic disc disease
- contractile or mechanical (movement based problem)
What is regional independence? - ✔✔- when thoracic hypomobility is
associated with: neck pain, shoulder pain, lateral elbow pain, carpal tunnel
syndrome, costochondritis, etc
- thoracic / rib region pathology linked to pain in other musculoskeletal
regions (neck, shoulder, elbow, low back)
What is the epidemiology of primary thoracic pain? - ✔✔- associated with
adolescence, posture, and backpack use
, ©NINJANERD 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
- backpack use: perceived heaviness
What outcomes should you use for thoracic / rib pain? - ✔✔- PSFS
- FABQ
- NPRS
- GROC
- NDI if movement at the head / neck elicits pain (reading, typing, etc)
- ODI
Mechanical thoracic / rib pain - ✔✔- joint dysfunction: thoracic z joints,
costovertebral and costotransverse joints, costochondral / chondrosternal
joints
- muscle strains via repetitive stress (pain reproduced with palpation,
contraction, or stretch)
Thoracic pain with mobility deficits key examination findings? - ✔✔- Pain
associated with movement or position of the thorax
- Restricted AROM
- Restricted segmental mobility
- No UE radicular symptoms
- Postural dysfunction
- Muscular imbalance
PT623 Exam Two Questions and
Answers 100% Solved | Rated A+
What is the function of the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- protection of the vital
organs and the spinal cord
- provides stability via passive structures over mobility
What is the structure of the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- vertebral body height
smaller in the front and larger in the back to support kyphotic curve
- long, down sloping spinous processes
- small disc height meaning much less motion available
- facets lie largely in the frontal plane for side bending
What are the rib articulations? - ✔✔- articulate anteriorly with the sternum
and posteriorly with the thoracic spine via vertebral body and transverse
process
- costochondral joint
- costovertebral joint
- costotransverse joint
,©NINJANERD 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
How do you assess thoracic joint play? - ✔✔- when assessing a motion
segment, push on the transverse process of the vertebrae below
- example: assessing mobility of T5 segment, push transverse process of
T6 away from T5
What happens with flexion at the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- anterior tip and
anterior glide of interbody joint
- bilateral upglide of facet joints
- all posterior ligaments (interspinous, supraspinous, posterior longitudinal),
posterior aspect of disc, muscles, and facet joint capsule under tension
What happens with extension at the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- posterior tip and
posterior glide of interbody joint
- bilateral downglide of facet joints
- anterior ligaments, muscles, capsule, and disc under tension
What happens with side bending at the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- ipsilateral tip
and glide at interbody joint
- ipsilateral downglide and contralateral upglide of the facets
What happens with rotation at the thoracic spine? - ✔✔- pure rotation with
sliding of the facet joints
What is upper rib motion? - ✔✔- pump handle motion
,©NINJANERD 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
- increased anterior posterior diameter
What is lower rib motion? - ✔✔- bucket handle motion
- increased medial lateral diameter
What is the action of serratus anterior? - ✔✔- scapular protraction and
upward rotation
What is the action of levator scapulae? - ✔✔- elevation of scapula
What is the action of the rhomboids? - ✔✔- scapular retraction, elevation,
and downward rotation
What are the primary causes of thoracic / rib pain? - ✔✔- mechanical
thorax pain via thoracic or rib hypomobility, joint locking, or synovitis
- thoracic disc disease
- contractile or mechanical (movement based problem)
What is regional independence? - ✔✔- when thoracic hypomobility is
associated with: neck pain, shoulder pain, lateral elbow pain, carpal tunnel
syndrome, costochondritis, etc
- thoracic / rib region pathology linked to pain in other musculoskeletal
regions (neck, shoulder, elbow, low back)
What is the epidemiology of primary thoracic pain? - ✔✔- associated with
adolescence, posture, and backpack use
, ©NINJANERD 2024/2025. YEAR PUBLISHED 2024.
- backpack use: perceived heaviness
What outcomes should you use for thoracic / rib pain? - ✔✔- PSFS
- FABQ
- NPRS
- GROC
- NDI if movement at the head / neck elicits pain (reading, typing, etc)
- ODI
Mechanical thoracic / rib pain - ✔✔- joint dysfunction: thoracic z joints,
costovertebral and costotransverse joints, costochondral / chondrosternal
joints
- muscle strains via repetitive stress (pain reproduced with palpation,
contraction, or stretch)
Thoracic pain with mobility deficits key examination findings? - ✔✔- Pain
associated with movement or position of the thorax
- Restricted AROM
- Restricted segmental mobility
- No UE radicular symptoms
- Postural dysfunction
- Muscular imbalance
