Doctor of physical therapy

08/12/2025

Cervical nerves roots & dermatomes

The cervical nerves are the eight pairs of spinal nerves (C1–C8) that originate from the cervical (neck) portion of the spinal cord. Although there are seven cervical vertebrae, there are eight cervical nerves because the first emerges above C1 and the last emerges below C7.

Overview of Cervical Nerves (C1–C8)

Number of nerves:

8 pairs (C1–C8)

Location:

Neck region, exiting between cervical vertebrae and extending into neck, shoulders, arms, and diaphragm.The cervical nerves are the eight pairs of spinal nerves (C1–C8) that originate from the cervical (neck) portion of the spinal cord. Although there are seven cervical vertebrae, there are eight cervical nerves because the first emerges above C1 and the last emerges below C7.

Overview of Cervical Nerves (C1–C8)

Number of nerves:

8 pairs (C1–C8)

Location:

Neck region, exiting between cervical vertebrae and extending into neck, shoulders, arms, and diaphragm.

Functions:

They provide motor and sensory innervation to:

Neck muscles and skin

Shoulders and upper back

Arms and hands

Diaphragm (via the phrenic nerve)

---

Functions of Each Cervical Nerve

C1–C3

Control neck flexion and movement

Innervate some throat muscles (via cervical plexus)

Damage can seriously affect neck stability and breathing

C3–C5 — The Phrenic Nerve

“C3, 4, and 5 keep the diaphragm alive”

Critical for breathing

Injury can impair respiratory function

C5

Shoulder abduction (deltoid)

Elbow flexion (biceps)

C6

Wrist extension

Some biceps function

Sensation in thumb and index finger

C7

Elbow extension (triceps)

Wrist flexion

Sensation in middle finger

C8

Hand and finger flexion

Sensation in ring and little fingers

Clinical Relevance

Cervical nerve injury can cause:

Neck pain or stiffness

Shoulder/arm weakness

Numbness or tingling in hands or fingers

Breathing difficulties (if C3–C5 affected)

Paralysis depending on level of injury

A diagram-style description

Dermatomes (skin sensation areas for each nerve)

Myotomes (muscle actions for each nerve)

Common conditions (e.g., cervical radiculopathy)
Doctor of physical therapy

08/12/2025

The popliteal fossa may look like just a hollow behind the knee, but it’s actually one of the most important passageways in the lower limb. It serves as the main route for nerves and blood vessels traveling between the thigh and the leg.

✨ Key contents you should know:
• Popliteal artery – the deepest and most protected structure
• Popliteal vein – receives the small saphenous vein
• Tibial nerve – largest branch of the sciatic nerve
• Common peroneal nerve – runs along the lateral border of the fossa
• Small saphenous vein
• Popliteal lymph nodes and fat
Doctor of physical therapy

02/12/2025

HOW TO ANALYSE MRI SCAN FOR KNEE?!

Identify bones

Follow cortex for fractures

Check ACL & PCL continuity

Evaluate menisci for tears

Look for fluid

Assess cartilage

Look for bone edema

Doctor of physical therapy

30/11/2025

🌐 The Suboccipital Region: Where Your Neck, Eyes, and Balance Systems Meet

At The Functional Neurology Center, we often talk about how the neck, eyes, and vestibular system (inner ear balance system) must work together for you to feel stable, coordinated, and symptom-free.
One of the most important—but most overlooked—areas involved in this integration is the suboccipital region, located just beneath the base of your skull.

📍 What Lives in the Suboccipital Region?
This small but powerful area includes:
▪ Re**us capitis muscles (major & minor)
▪ Obliquus capitis muscles (superior & inferior)
▪ The suboccipital nerve
▪ Critical blood supply such as the vertebral artery
▪ Deep cervical veins and arteries
▪ Attachments to the atlas (C1) and axis (C2)

These muscles have dense proprioceptive receptors—meaning they constantly send information to your brain about head position and movement.

⸻

👁️ How This Area Connects to Your Eyes

Your eye movements are directly linked to activity in the upper cervical spine through pathways that help stabilize your vision when your head moves.
When these deep neck muscles become tight, injured, or dysfunctional, they can disrupt:
• Smooth pursuit eye movements
• Gaze stability
• Visual focus
• Eye-neck coordination

This is why patients with upper neck dysfunction often report:
✔ Blurry vision
✔ Trouble focusing
✔ Eye strain
✔ “Motion sensitivity” or dizziness when moving their eyes

⸻

🌀 How This Area Connects to Your Vestibular (Balance) System

The suboccipital region communicates directly with your vestibular nuclei in the brainstem.
If there is irritation, weakness, or compensation in these muscles, you may experience:
• Vertigo
• Disequilibrium
• Difficulty walking in busy environments
• Feeling “off balance”
• Sensitivity to bending, turning, or looking up
• Cervical dizziness or cervicogenic headache

This is one reason why chronic dizziness patients often don’t improve until both the vestibular system and the upper cervical system are rehabilitated together.

⸻

💡 Why We Focus on This Area at The FNC

During your exam and rehabilitation program, we assess:
🔹 Suboccipital muscle tone and activation
🔹 Cervical joint position error
🔹 Eye tracking and gaze stability
🔹 Vestibular reflexes
🔹 How your neck muscles respond to movement, balance tasks, and visual demand

Our treatment may include:
▪ Vestibular-ocular rehabilitation
▪ Cervical proprioceptive training
▪ Targeted strengthening of the suboccipital muscles
▪ Manual therapies
▪ Neuro-visual integration
▪ Customized vestibular rehab using VR, GyroStim, and motion platforms
▪ Laser, ARPwave, and neuromuscular re-education

⸻

⭐ Why This Matters

Your upper neck is not just “neck muscles.”
It is a neurological control center that influences your:
✨ balance
✨ vision
✨ posture
✨ spatial awareness
✨ dizziness
✨ headaches
✨ even your autonomic nervous system

When this system is out of sync, daily life can feel overwhelming.
When it’s restored, patients often feel grounded, steady, and clear.
Doctor of physical therapy

23/11/2025

23/11/2025

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
RLS symptoms Symptoms include an urge to move the legs and associated unpleasant
sensations, typically at night. Moving usually provides
some relief.
Doctor of physical therapy

20/11/2025

👣 Understanding Hallux Valgus: The Mechanics Behind Bunions 👣

Hallux valgus, commonly known as a bunion, is more than just a bump on your foot—it's a biomechanical issue.

🔹 The first metatarsal bone shifts inward (medial deviation)
🔹 The big toe drifts outward (lateral deviation)
🔹 Sesamoid bones become misaligned
🔹 Muscle imbalances cause the adductor hallucis to pull the big toe aggressively outward, overpowering the stabilizing abductor hallucis
🔹 This leads to joint instability, increased pressure, pain, and difficulty walking

Early understanding and care can help prevent progression and maintain foot health! If you experience foot pain or notice changes in your big toe, consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Doctor of physical therapy

19/11/2025

🚶‍♂️ Gait Biomechanics – The Science Behind Every Step! 🦵

Every time you take a step, your body performs an incredible sequence of movements called the gait cycle. From heel strike to toe-off, every joint and muscle works in perfect coordination to keep you balanced, absorb shock, and propel you forward efficiently.

During the stance phase, your foot supports body weight while the Achilles tendon and calf muscles act like a spring — absorbing energy as you land and releasing it as you push off. In the swing phase, your leg moves forward, preparing for the next step with smooth momentum and control.

Understanding gait biomechanics helps us identify walking issues, improve athletic performance, and design better orthotic supports like AFOs that restore balance and efficiency.
Doctor of physical therapy

19/11/2025

Low Vitamin B12: The Hidden Cause Behind Fatigue, Tingling, and Memory Problems

Most people get their “Vitamin B12 test” done and feel reassured when it looks normal.

▶️But here’s the catch:
1. Most of that B12 in your blood is inactive, bound to a protein your body can’t actually use.
2. What really matters is the active form, called Holotranscobalamin. This is the B12 your brain and nerves can actually access.
3. In many people, especially older adults, vegetarians, or those on long-term acidity medicines or metformin, B12 deficiency can go undetected for years, even with “normal” blood reports.

✅Better tests exist:
1. Holotranscobalamin (Active B12): Detects deficiency early
2. Methylmalonic acid (MMA): Shows if B12-dependent metabolism is impaired

▶️If you suffer from persistent fatigue, poor concentration, numbness, or mood changes; ask your doctor if your B12 is truly active; not just “normal.”
Doctor of physical therapy

16/11/2025

✅ Spine degeneration is the gradual loss of normal structure and function in the spine, most commonly due to aging, where the intervertebral discs wear out and lose their cushioning ability. This can lead to symptoms like chronic back or neck pain, stiffness, and numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, especially when the degeneration puts pressure on nerves.

✅ Treatment options range from conservative methods like over-the-counter pain relievers and gentle exercises to more intensive medical treatments depending on the severity.

❄️Causes and contributing factors❄️

✔️Aging: The most common cause, where discs lose water content and shrink, and the body's natural shock absorbers deteriorate.
Injury or trauma: Can accelerate the degeneration process.
✔️Repetitive strain: Overuse from certain activities can lead to damage.
✔️Genetics: Genetic factors can play a role in how the spine ages.
✔️Smoking: Can contribute to the rate of disc degeneration.
✔️Tumors or infections: These can also cause degenerative spinal conditions.

❄️Symptoms❄️

✅ Pain: Chronic or recurring pain in the back or neck, which can worsen with sitting, bending, or twisting.
✅ Stiffness: Reduced flexibility and increased stiffness in the spine.
✅ Numbness or tingling: Often occurs in the buttocks, legs, or arms due to nerve irritation.
Pain that improves with certain positions: Pain may decrease with walking or lying down, as the pressure on the discs is reduced compared to sitting.

❄️Management and treatment❄️

➡️ Conservative treatments:
✔️Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
✔️Gentle stretching programs.
✔️Heat or ice therapy.

➡️ Lifestyle and prevention:
✔️Maintaining a healthy weight.
✔️Regular exercise to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine.
✔️Avoiding smoking.
✔️Lifting with care.
Doctor of physical therapy

24/10/2025

Understanding Rotator Cuff Pain: Causes You Should Know

Rotator cuff pain is a common shoulder issue that can disrupt daily life and your favorite activities. Swipe to see the top causes:

🔹 Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Inflammation from overuse or repetitive motion can lead to pain and reduced shoulder function.

🔹 Rotator Cuff Tear
A tear in the tendons—partial or complete—can cause weakness and limit movement.

🔹 Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Occurs when shoulder movement pinches the rotator cuff, resulting in discomfort.

🔹 Calcific Tendinitis
Calcium deposits build up in the tendons, causing pain and inflammation.

If you experience persistent shoulder pain, consult with a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment options
Doctor of physical therapy

24/10/2025

This image is an anatomical diagram of the human face and neck, highlighting the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), major arteries, and glands.
The facial nerve is responsible for controlling the muscles of facial expression, as well as providing taste sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
The parotid gland is a salivary gland located in front of the ear. The facial nerve passes through this gland, where it divides into its main branches.
The temporalis muscle is a large muscle on the side of the head that is involved in chewing and jaw movement.
The masseter muscle is another muscle of mastication (chewing) located on the side of the jaw.
The submandibular gland is a salivary gland located under the jaw.
Doctor of physical therapy