Head and Neck
The neck includes 7 vertebrae and 8 pairs of nerves. Muscles which attach to the neck include your upper fiber trapezius, levator scalp, and deep neck flexors. The neck allows you to rest, stay still, and move your head in multiple planes.
- Headaches
- Difficulty with concentrating
- Pain with sleeping or first thing in the morning
- Pain, tingling or numbness in the shoulder, arm or hand
- Pain with prolonged sitting
- Dizziness
- Stiffness
- Muscle weakness on one side of the face
- Vertigo
- Difficulty reading
- Pain with turning head or looking up
- I avoid heavy jobs around the house and at work because of my neck pain
- I avoid recreational activities such as gardening or sports because of my neck
- I’ve missed work because of my headaches/neck pain
- Neck pain prevents me from lifting heavy weights
- I have difficulty checking my blind spot while driving
- The room feels like its spinning
- I recently had a car accident or fall
- My job involves sitting at a desk for prolonged periods of time
- Neck Pain
- Strain of the muscles
- Sprain of the ligaments
- Disc Bulge
- Nerve impingement
- Decreased ability to move neck through full range
- Arthritic changes (ie DDD)
- Poor Posture
- BPPV
- Bell’s Palsy
- Concussion
- Whiplash
Shoulder
The shoulder includes 3 major bones including the humerus, scapula and clavicle. There are 6 major ligaments including the AC joint and capsular ligament. Muscles which attach to the shoulder include the rotator cuff complex, deltoid muscles, biceps, triceps, and trapezius among many others. Nerves which supply the arm and hand also pass through the shoulder joint. The shoulder allows you to move your arm in various directions, lift, push and pull.
- Pain with raising the arm
- Stiffness with raising the arm
- Feeling of heaviness in the arm
- Unable to reach behind your back
- Pain with reaching behind back
- Pain with sleeping
- Pain with lifting heavy weights
- Numbness or Tingling (pins and needles) in your shoulder, arm or hand
- Clicking
- Swelling
- I avoid recreational activities such as gardening and sports because of my shoulder
- I avoid heavy jobs around the house and at work because of my shoulder
- I’ve missed work due to my shoulder pain
- I have trouble getting my clothes on and off or washing my hair
- I have trouble opening a jar or with meal prep
- My shoulder pain prevents me from lifting, pushing, or pulling heavy objects
- My job involves repetitive arm movement and/or lifting
- I recently had a car accident or fall
- I recently had a fracture and was immobilized in a sling
- Shoulder Pain
- Strain or tear of the muscles/tendon (ie rotator cuff complex)
- Tendonitis / Tendinitis / Tenosynovitis
- Sprain of the ligaments (i.e. AC joint)
- Shoulder Instability/Dislocation
- Arthritic changes
- Bursitis
- Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
- Nerve Impingement
- Scapular Weakness
- Osteoarthritis
- Post Fracture/Surgery
Elbow
The elbow has 3 major bones, 3 major ligaments and 3 major joints. There are multiple muscles attached to the elbow including the biceps, triceps, wrist extensor complex and wrist flexor complex. The elbow supports you in bending, twisting, lifting, gripping, writing and typing.
- Pain with lifting, reaching, pushing, pulling, or typing
- Stiffness in the elbow
- A feeling of pain in the bone at elbow joint
- Swelling
- Pain or weakness with gripping such as holding a glass/mug
- I avoid heavy jobs around the house and at work because of my elbow
- I avoid recreational activities such as sports and gardening because of my elbow
- My job involves repetitive arm movement such as typing or lifting
- I recently had a car accident or fall
- I recently had a fracture and was immobilized in a sling
- I have a previous history to injuries in my shoulder and or wrist
- Elbow pain
- Strain or tear of the muscles
- Sprain or tear of the ligaments
- Tendonitis / Tendinitis / Tenosynovitis
- “Tennis Elbow” (Lateral Epicondylitis)
- “Golfers Elbow” (Medial Epicondylitis)
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Bursitis
- Post Fracture/Surgery
Wrist And Hand
The wrist joint connects the radius and ulna with the 8 carpal bones and bases of the 5 metacarpals. There are 27 bones in the hand with joint articulation between three major sections within the phalanges, the metacarpals, and the carpal bones. Muscles in the wrist and hand include Extensor carpi radialis, Flexor carpi ulnaris, Abductor pollicus longus and Extensor Digitorum communis. The wrist and hand have good flexibility, allows for a good grip and has the ability to do fine and gross motor skills
- Pain with lifting, reaching, pushing, pulling, or typing
- Numbness and tingling in the fingers
- Stiffness in the hand
- Swelling
- Pain or weakness with gripping such as holding a glass/mug
- I avoid heavy jobs around the house and at work because of my wrist/hand
- I avoid recreational activities such as sports and gardening because of my wrist/hand
- My job involves repetitive arm movement such as typing or lifting
- I recently had a car accident or fall
- I recently had a fracture and was immobilized in a sling
- I have a previous history of injuries to my wrist/hand
- Hand Pain
- Hand Weakness
- Decreased grip strength
- De Quervain’s
- TLCC
- Carpal Tunnel
- Tendonitis / Tendinitis / Tenosynovitis
- Trigger Finger
- Post Surgical/Fracture
- Osteoarthritis/ Rheumatoid Arthritis
Back
The back includes 33 vertebrae, 23 discs, 31 pairs of nerves branching from the spinal cord, 400 muscles and 1,000 tendons. The back allows you to sleep, sit, stand, walk, run, lift, and bend.
- Pain with lifting
- Pain with bending or twisting
- Pain first thing in the morning
- Pain at the end of the day
- Stiffness
- Pain, Numbness, or tingling radiating down a leg
- Difficulty with prolonged sitting or getting out of a chair
- My job involves repetitive lifting, bending, or twisting
- I need to change positions frequently to get comfortable
- I avoid heavy jobs around the house or at work because of my back
- I’ve taken time off work because of my back
- I recently had a car accident or fall
- I recently had a fracture or surgery and I’ve been resting in bed
- I avoid recreational activities such as gardening or sports
- Low Back Pain (Acute, Chronic or Mechanical)
- Muscle Strain
- Core Weakness
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Sciatica
- Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Scoliosis
- Bulging Disc, Ruptured Disc, Herniated Disc
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
- Nerve Impingement
- Sacro-Iliac Joint Dysfunction
- Post Surgical/Fracture
- Osteoarthritis
- Facet Dysfunction of the Spine
Hip
The hip is composed of a ball and socket joint connecting the pelvis and femur. It is supported by multiple ligaments and muscles including the hamstring, piriformis, and gluts. The hip allows you to walk, balance, lift and bend.
- Pain with walking
- Pain with bending or kneeling
- Pain with squatting
- Pain with getting up after sitting
- Stiffness
- Pain with climbing stairs
- Pain with running or jumping
- Swelling
- Pain at night
- Local tenderness
- Clicking
- My job involves repetitive lifting, bending, or twisting
- I need to change positions frequently to get comfortable
- I avoid heavy jobs around the house or at work because of my hip
- I’ve taken time off work because of my hip
- I recently had a car accident or fall
- I recently had a fracture or surgery and I’ve been resting in bed
- I avoid recreational activities such as gardening or sports
- I limp when I walk
- Hip Pain
- Hip Weakness
- Total Hip or Partial Hip Replacement
- Muscle Strains
- ITB syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis / Tendinitis / Tenosynovitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Post Surgical/Fracture
Knee
The knee includes 4 major ligaments, 2 menisci, and 4 bones. Muscles which attach to the knee include your quadriceps, hamstring, and calf muscles. The knee supports you to bend, twist, walk, jump, and run.
- Pain with walking
- Pain with bending or kneeling
- Pain with squatting
- Pain with getting up after sitting
- Stiffness
- Pain with climbing stairs
- The knee feels like it gives out
- Locking sensation
- Pain with running or jumping
- Swelling or Clicking
- I feel unstable while walking
- I have a previous knee injury
- I avoid heavy jobs around the house and at work because of my knee
- I avoid recreational activities such as sports because of my knee
- I had a recent fracture/surgery, and I was immobilized in a splint
- Knee Pain
- Knee weakness
- Ligament Sprain/Tear (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL)
- Patella mal tracking
- Arthritic changes
- Bursitis (ie Bakers cyst)
- Meniscus tears
- Swelling
- Loose Body in joint space
- Decreased joint space
- Meniscal Tear
- Tendonitis / Tendinitis / Tenosynovitis
- Muscle Strain
- Total or Partial Knee Replacement
- Osgood Schlatters
- Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome
- Post Surgical/Fracture
- Osteoarthritis
Ankle and Foot
The ankle and foot is made up of 28 bones, 55 articulations, multiple ligaments and muscles including the Posterior Tibialis, Gastrocemius, Anterior Tibialis, and Extensor digitorum longus. The foot allows you to hold your body weight against gravity to walk, jump and run.
- Heel, arch, toe, or ankle pain
- Pain with walking
- Pain with prolonged standing
- Pain with running, jumping, squatting, or kicking
- Pain in the feet first thing in the morning
- Calluses or bunions
- Wearing down of shoes in an uneven pattern
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Clicking
- Local tenderness
- I feel unstable when walking
- I’ve been told one leg is longer than the other
- I have a previous foot injury
- I have high arches or flat feet
- I recently had a car accident or fall
- I was walking when I suddenly twisted my ankle inward or outward
- I had a recent fracture/surgery, and I was immobilized in a boot
- I avoid heavy jobs around the house and at work because of my foot
- I avoid recreational activities such as sports and gardening because of my foot
- Ankle or Foot Pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Metatarsalgia
- Neuroma
- Weak muscles
- Heel Spur
- Flat Feet
- High Arches
- Fat pad irritation
- Achilles tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Strain or tear of the muscles
- Sprain or tear of the ligaments
- Swelling
- Arthritic changes
- Tendonitis / Tendinitis / Tenosynovitis
- Post surgery/fracture