SD. Sport massage therapy

10/12/2025

07/12/2025

07/12/2025

Intervertebral disc stages
“Intervertebral disc stages” can refer to two related concepts:

1. Stages of Disc Degeneration (Degenerative Disc Disease)

Clinicians often describe disc degeneration in 4 stages:

Stage 1 — Dysfunction

Early tears in the annulus fibrosus

Mild loss of disc hydration

Little to no height loss

Episodic back pain may start

Stage 2 — Dehydration / Prolapse (Early Disc Bulging)

Disc loses water → becomes thinner and less flexible

Annulus weakens → disc may begin to bulge outward

Pain, stiffness, and intermittent nerve irritation possible

Stage 3 — Disc Protrusion / Extrusion

Annulus develops larger tears

Nucleus pulposus pushes through (herniates)

Clear nerve root compression may occur

More consistent pain, possible sciatica or radiculopathy

Stage 4 — Fibrosis / Stabilization (Advanced Degeneration)

Disc height significantly reduced (“collapsed disc”)

Bone spurs (osteophytes) may form

Segment becomes stiff

Pain may decrease but mobility decreases

2. Stages of Disc Herniation (Herniation Classification)

Disc herniation itself is often described in four stages:

Disc Degeneration – Annulus begins to weaken

Prolapse – Disc bulges but outer layers remain intact

Extrusion – Nucleus breaks through the annulus but remains attached

Sequestration – Disc fragment breaks off entirely

3. Pfirrmann Grading (MRI-based Disc Degeneration Scale)

Frequently used in radiology (Grades I–V):

Grade I: Healthy, high water content

Grade II: Mild degeneration

Grade III: Moderate degeneration, height loss

Grade IV: Severe dark disc, reduced height

Grade V: Collapsed disc

07/12/2025

04/12/2025

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)

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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)

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