Radiculopathy is caused by the compression or irritation of a nerve root located in the spinal column. In the case of “Thoracic Radiculopathy,” the symptoms are caused by a disease process that occurs within the thoracic spine. What is a Thoracic Radiculopathy? Thoracic radiculopathy refers to a condition where the nerve roots in the thoracic (mid-back) region…
Spinal Accessory Nerve Palsy, also known as Accessory Nerve Palsy, is a neurological condition characterized by the dysfunction of the spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI). This nerve is primarily responsible for innervating the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which are essential for head rotation, shoulder elevation, and certain movements of the neck and scapula. Damage…
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is an uncommon disorder that can produce shooting, stabbing, or intense pain in the back of the tongue, the tonsils, or the middle ear. The path that the discomfort follows is the glossopharyngeal nerve, which runs deep in the neck. It supports the eustachian tube, middle ear, parotid gland (one of the salivary…
What is Rigidity? Rigidity refers to a condition characterized by an increased resistance to passive movement, which remains constant regardless of the position or velocity of the movement. This type of muscular hypertonia is distinct from other forms of muscle stiffness, such as spasticity, where resistance varies with the speed of motion. Many authors use…
Lumbar radiculopathy refers to a condition where the spinal nerve roots in the lower back, specifically the lumbar region, are compressed or irritated. This compression can result from various factors, such as herniated discs, bone spurs, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis. Definition The condition known as lumbar radiculopathy is an inflammation of a nerve root in…
The condition known as vestibular neuritis damages the inner ear’s vestibulocochlear nerve. This nerve transmits data from your inner ear to your brain regarding your head posture and balance. When the vestibular nerve in your inner ear is swollen or gets inflamed, vestibular neuritis develops. Your brain’s ability to process information is disrupted when this nerve…
What is a Spasticity? One aspect of upper motor neuron syndrome is spasticity, a motor condition characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes (muscle tone) with heightened tendon jerks as a result of the stretch reflex’s hyperexcitability. Lance’s 1980 physiological definition of spasticity is the most well-known and frequently used explanation of the…
Bell’s palsy is a disorder that results in a sudden weakening of one side of the face’s muscles. Usually, the weakness is temporary and gets better over a few weeks. The weakening gives the face a drooping appearance on half of it. It’s possible that you won’t be able to close your eyes or that…
What is Decorticate Posture? A patient in decorticate posture has an abnormal body posture in which their arms are stretched over their chest, their wrists are flexed, their fingers are squeezed and their legs are extended straight forward. The wrists and fingers are bent and rest on the chest, while the arms are bowed inward…
What is Decerebrate Posture? Decerebrate posture, also known as decerebrate rigidity or extensor posturing, is a specific type of abnormal body posture that typically indicates severe damage to the brainstem. It’s characterized by rigid extension of the arms and legs, with the arms positioned straight out and the legs extended and internally rotated. The posture…
