As physical therapists, we see many patients with a referring diagnosis of partial rotator cuff tear. Almost every patient with this pathoanatomic diagnosis will ask you one of these questions: "Can I injure it the tear worse? Will the muscle tear fully or recover? Will I need surgery?" These questions have complex answers with a myriad number of factors determining each answer. Below is a paragraph taken from the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Secrets book that should help answer the question, "Do partial rotator cuff tears heal or progress?"   
"1)Ruptured fibers can no longer sustain a load; thus increased loads are placed on neighboring fibers, making them more susceptible to rupture.
2) Disruption of the tendon fibers also disrupts local blood supply within the tendon, thus inducing ischemia.
3) Disrupted tendon fibers are exposed to joint fluid, which has a lytic effect on tendons that impairs the healing process.
4) When tendons heal, the scar tissue that replaces the ruptured tendon fibers does not have the same tensile strength as the original tissue; thus it is a increased risk of failure.
5) Once a tear becomes full thickness, loads that normally are distributed through the entire intact tendon often are transmitted at the torn margins of the rotator cuff tendon. This process produces a "zipper effect" and extends or unzips the tendon from the tuberosity. "

From the information above, it is evident that in many instances, partial thickness rotator cuff tears progress to full thickness tears. The physiologic tissue structure following an injury has changed. The blood flow and tensile strength of that tissue has been permanently altered. It does appear that partial tears do progress. So where does this leave us?

Fortunately, the physical therapy paradigm is shifting from a pathoanatomic to a pathokinesiologic model. Despite having a partial rotator cuff tear, patients can respond positively with conservative management. By addressing capsular mobility deficits, scapulohumeral strength and flexibility problems, and the presenting movement dysfunction, surgery is not always indicated following a rotator cuff tear. The Secrets book also states that variable amounts (33-90%) of individuals demonstrate improvements in pain and overall function despite having a full thickness rotator cuff tear. 

Not all patients will succeed with conservative management, but address your primary impairments and movement dysfunction and you will be able to decrease the patient's pain and improve their function. 

-Jim Heafner PT, DPT, OCS

References: 
Placzek, Jeffrey D., and David A. Boyce. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Secrets. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier, 2006. Print.

Reading this title I'm sure you are wondering: What does your approach mean?  I'll admit, its broad but what I want to cover in this post is how you interact with patients.  Most importantly however, I want to talk about your subjective. Many of us have taken basic communication classes in PT school but they didn't help much.  Practicing as a clinician for a 1.5 years and going through a residency as really made me re-think how I approach new and existing patients.  

So what about the subjective exam?  Well, for those of you that have studied pain science I'm confident you will agree that the way you go about interacting with the patient will make a big difference in that patient's outcome.  Everyone has a different way they interact with patients and many times this can be influenced by the environment of the clinic you work in.  However, you must still have your own unique approach.  Think about that one PT you know that patient's love but really isn't doing any earth shattering treatment.  Why do his or her patient's get better?  Placebo?  Possibly.  We know that placebo's exist and have a certain effect on patients.  Knowing this should make you think about how you interact with a patient.  Eye contact, handshake, body position, and tone of voice all make a difference.  How do you explain things to patients?  Do you vary it depending on the level of understanding of the patient?  How about the level of fear of the patient?  Cueing is another thing.  We could talk for hours on coaching cues but instead I'd rather have you watch this interaction with Gray Cook and Kelly Starett.  They nail it.    

So now you're probably asking yourself, doesn't my patient's personality and/or approach make a difference?  Glad you asked.  It does.  No matter what we think the patient needs, if that patient is not going to respond to that type of subjective or treatment, then it might be a waste of effort.  Instead, learning what type of patient you have can make a big difference.  Learn about their history, read their body language, and find out about past times in physical therapy.  Now you can make a more meaningful impact.  

Ask yourself if you vary your approach depending on the patient.  Then ask yourself how you interact with the patients your see and how you educate them.  I really like this article by Zac Cupples for an in-depth approach on subjective interviewing.  Worth checking out.  

- Brian

Below is a great video that breaks down the fundamental components of the Ulnar Nerve. I will highlight a few key points, but I recommend watching the video as well.

Ulnar Nerve Quick Facts: 
1) The ulnar nerve originates from C8-T1 nerve roots.
2) It does not give off any branches in the axilla or upper arm
3) The nerve passes between the 2 heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris
4) Tinel's Sign can be used for assessing cubital tunnel syndrome
5) The nerve enters the palm through Guyon's Canal
6) The deep branch of the ulnar nerve innervates the three hypothenar muscles, two medial lumbricals, seven interossei, the adductor pollicis, and deep head of the FPB
7) The ulnar nerve provides sensory innervation to the little finger and half the ring finger
8) A claw hand deformity is due to unopposed pull of the flexor digitorum profundus.

Enjoy the video!

-Jim

Patient’s primary complaint
48 y.o. male with Left elbow and upper extremity pain with upper extremity activity

Physical Therapy Diagnosis
Radial Nerve Tension with CT junction mobility deficits

Subjective History
General: On 10/1/14 the pt. presented to a PT clinic with L elbow pain during L elbow movements following a work related injury. He reports reaching to grab an object falling off a shelf weight approximately 10 lbs. Pain intensity was 4/10 and described as sharp and localized to the elbow. Work/Social: He has two jobs, primarily working at Lowe’s. Job duties include a range of tasks from prolonged desk work to lifting up to 30# in the different aisles. Other: Non-significant PMH, past surgical history. Denies taking any medications. From 10/1-10/6, he received two physical therapy treatments for the medical diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis. The original PT treated his lateral elbow pain with wrist stretching and strengthening exercises. The patient did not report any benefit and stopped attending PT.

I first saw this patient on 12/2/14. He presented to my clinic with Left elbow pain and occasional referral from his common extensor mass to the lateral deltoid and down the arm to the dorsum of the wrist. Pain intensity was now 8/10 with arm and shoulder movements. He reported, “I thought I would give PT another try because my pain is so intense right now it is affecting my entire lifestyle- working, home activities…and sleeping.” Subjective history revealed his symptoms increase with elbow extension, wrist extension, pronation and shoulder flexion. His worst pain occurred with resisted elbow flexion and supination. Symptoms increase throughout the workday after using his arm. Additionally, he was now taking 200 mg Ibuprofen and Naproxen for pain management. This patient is L hand dominant. 

Objective Findings
Postural Assessment: Forward head posture. Rounded shoulders with the L shoulder anteriorly displaced. Mini-CT junction hump with cervical hinging at C5-C6. Mild thoracic kyphosis. Left scapular protraction.

Active Range of Motion: Cervical spine: WNL all movements, excessive hinging at C5-C6 with extension; Thoracic spine: decreased thoracic extension with no reversal of thoracic curve from T6-T8. Right UE: WNL. L UE: Shoulder Flexion, Abduction, Extension: WNL; Rotation (supine, arm abducted to 90 deg): ER: WNL, IR: grossly decreased. Elbow and Hand: WNL 

Passive Range of Motion: WNL all movements

Joint Mobility: Hypomobility with right sideglides at C6-C7; Hypomobility and pain with PA assessment of T1-T3; Hypomobility with PA assessment from T6-T8. Hypomobility with posterior glides of GHJ; Hypomobility PA of the humero-radial joint.

MMT: Deferred at initial evaluation (time constraints)

Neurovascular screening: Vascular deferred (not applicable). Neuromuscular: Normal dermatomes and myotomes; +ive radial nerve tension test. 

Special Testing: +ive Cozen’s, +Mill’s Test, +ive resisted supination.

Movement analysis (demo’ed with 5x shoulder flexion): cervical extension with shoulder flexion >120 degrees. Excessive scapular abduction during shoulder flexion, no reversal of thoracic kyphosis with shoulder flexion, decreased and poor coordination of L scapular retraction and downward rotation on return from flexion. 

Asterisk Signs
(12/2) Elbow flexion, supination AROM pain with movement: Pre-treatment: 8/10. Post-Thoracic and CT junction manipulation: 6/10. Post-C6-C7 mobilizations with radial nerve glides: 4/10. Post-treatment: 4/10.

(12/5) Shoulder flexion pain with movement: Pre-treatment: 5/10. Post-treatment: 1/10

First Choice Intervention (with rationale)
Manual Therapy: Supine Thoracic Manipulation- localized over T6-T8
-Neurophysiological Effects- reduction of neural tension, reflexive inhibition of periscapular muscles, hypoalgesic effects, decreased areas of activation in brain regions associated with pain (anterior cingulate, frontal cortex & sensory motor cortex)
-Biomechanical: restore joint play and ROM within the thoracic spine, quick stretch of tight joint capsules
-Psychological Effects- subjective report of relief with manipulation in the past.

Second Choice Intervention (with rationale)
Therapeutic Exercise: Radial Nerve Glides:
-Improve axoplasmic flow within the nerve, improve nerve vascularization, improve the mechanical properties within the nervous system, facilitation of nerve gliding.

The patient has been on vacation for the past 3 weeks so I have not seen him since prior to Christmas. Assuming he is doing well, I am expecting 1-2 more treatment sessions for full return to work.  


Conclusions:
-We must perform appropriate differential diagnosis. The first PT improperly diagnosed his lateral elbow pain as lateral epicondylagia. The patient had months more duration of pain, increased medical cost, and time away from work. This could have been avoided with a proper differential. 
-Always assess the radial nerve in lateral elbow pain.
-Look proximal and central when addressing nerve dysfunction. Many of this gentlemen's symptoms were due to poor posture and spinal mechanics. 

Hope you enjoyed the case. Send me any questions you may have.


-Jim 

I was recently performing an evaluation on a 27-year old male s/p car accident. He presented with classic whiplash signs and symptoms- neck pain, tenderness to palpation and hypomobility of the upper cervical spine, cervical joint restrictions, and high fear avoidance to movement. Additionally, he was having near constant headaches with reports of tinnitus and earaches. In this post I want to cover how and why ear symptoms can be related to both upper cervical and TMJ Dysfunction

Cervical nerves 1-3 and cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X, and XI all meet at the trigeminocervical nucleus. These nerves are in very close proximity to one another. When dysfunction occurs in one of the nerves, the other nerves can receive abnormal inputs as well. The TMJ is innervated by the mandibular division of the Trigeminal Nerve (cranial nerve V) and is therefore at risk. The mandibular division further branches into the deep temporal nerve, masseteric, and auriculotemporal nerves. Since the auriculotemporal nerve is responsible for innervating the tempanic membrance and the external auditory meatus, dysfunction of the TMJ can cause ear symptoms. On the same note, the upper cervical nerves exit around the suboccipital triangle, giving the possibility of a cervical patient to have ear symptoms.

In my car accident patient described above, I have been focusing heavily on patient education, proper body mechanics, relaxation techniques, and upper cervical joint mobility. By improving upper cervical mobility, the upper cervical nerves can be taken off tension. Therefore the trigeminocervical nucleus will stop receiving poor inputs and indirectly stop affecting the auriculotemporal nerve. 

Within 3 visits, he continues to have headaches, but his ear symptoms have subsided! 

-Jim

Looking back at our content over the past year has been fun. All three of us have developed professionally. We have graduated from residency programs, Chris and I are pursuing fellowships in manual therapy, and we have launched our premium page! Our content is becoming more diverse and more advanced with each post. Here is a quick review at the top 5 posts (ranked by Facebook likes and comments) over the 2014 year. In no particular order 

5) Exercise Protocols: Why They Work often Work and Why We Must be Careful
In general, many patients fall into typical pattern with similar impairments. Knowing the common patterns may allow you to speed up the process, but if you ignore the exceptions, you will fail to make progress. Always Test, Treat, Re-test! 

4) Are You Hamstring Dominant?
As I have grown as a clinician, I have recognized the importance of motor control more and more. Testing for hamstring or lumbar dominance over the gluteals is very important. Do not be fooled by strong gluts in the low back pain population. After assessing the glut max, retest for hamstring dominance to ensure they are not over-activating the hamstrings. Dominance patterns are extremely common.

3) Plantar Fasciosis or Lateral Plantar Nerve Pain
As our clinical skills have improved, so has our differential diagnosis. Assessing for nerve pain in the presence of common musculoskeletal conditions has become part of every one of my examinations. In all patients that present with plantar fasciosis, you must check the lateral plantar nerve as well! 

2) ATFL Sprain or Neural Tension?
No surprise here! Just as I stated you must assess the lateral plantar nerve in plantar fasciosis, it is equally important to assess the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve in lateral ankle sprains. Read this post to learn more about the IDC nerve and how to test for neural tension. 

1) Repeated Motions Exam: Why you Should be Using It.
Many of Chris' recent posts have included repeated motions. In school they are often overlooked and misunderstood. Clinically, they can be difficult to assess your accuracy because the position is pain provoking. Do not let these factors stop you from learning about and using repeated motions. Read this post to get you started!

Thank you to all of our readers. We enjoy writing for you and learning from you with your comments and feedback. 

Jim Heafner