MYELOPATHY

• Spinal stenosis
• Spinal trauma
• Spinal infection
• Spinal tumors
• Autoimmune disorders
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Oncological disorders
• Neurological disorders
• Congenital disorders

Myelopathy can occur in any area of the spine and has a different name depending on where in the spine it appears.

Cervical Myelopathy

• Cervical myelopathyoccurs in the neck and is the most common form of myelopathy.

Thoracic Myelopathy

• Thoracic myelopathy occurs in the middle region of the spine.
• The spinal cord in this area typically gets compressed due to bulging or herniated discs, bone spurs, or spinal trauma.

• Lumbar Myelopathy

  Lumbar myelopathy is a rare condition because in most people, the spinal cord ends in the top section of the lumbar spine. However, if the spinal cord is low-lying or tethered, it can be affected by lumbar myelopathy.

   

• Neck, arm, leg or lower back pain
• Tingling, numbness or weakness
• Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
• Increased reflexes in extremities or the development of abnormal reflexes
• Loss of urinary or bowel control
• Difficulty walking
• Issues with balance and coordination
   

The goals of physiotherapy treatment are

• Pain relief
• To improve function
• To prevent neurological deterioration
• To reverse or improve neurological deficits

1. Manual therapy

• The neck pain with natural apophyseal glides and sustained natural apophyseal glides for cervical extension and rotation

2. Exercise

• Mobility exercise
• Proprioception exercises
• Aerobic exercise
• Stretching
• Strengthening exercises
• Active range of motion exercises
• • Pain relief
  • To improve function
  • To prevent neurological deterioration
  • To reverse or improve neurological deficitsHome exercise programmes
  • The goals of physiotherapy treatment 

Myelopathy is a term that describes a specific condition: “an abnormal compression of the spinal cord, which results in the interruption of the normal flow of nerve signals through the pinched area.”

 The compression causes pain, numbness, loss of sensation, and difficulty with balance and movement, among many other potential symptoms.