A Patient With C5 Radiculopathy Has Limited Active Lateral Flexion to the Left. Which Motion Is Coupled With Cervical Lateral Flexion to the Left?

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Multiple Choice

A Patient With C5 Radiculopathy Has Limited Active Lateral Flexion to the Left. Which Motion Is Coupled With Cervical Lateral Flexion to the Left?

Explanation:
Think about how the cervical spine moves as a unit. In the subaxial cervical region, lateral flexion to one side typically comes with rotation to the same side because of how the facet joints are oriented. So when left lateral flexion is attempted, the accompanying motion you’d expect is rotation to the left. That’s why left rotation is the coupled movement here. Rotating to the right or performing a different plane motion wouldn’t align with the usual cervical coupling pattern, and thoracic extension isn’t part of the cervical coupling at all.

Think about how the cervical spine moves as a unit. In the subaxial cervical region, lateral flexion to one side typically comes with rotation to the same side because of how the facet joints are oriented. So when left lateral flexion is attempted, the accompanying motion you’d expect is rotation to the left. That’s why left rotation is the coupled movement here. Rotating to the right or performing a different plane motion wouldn’t align with the usual cervical coupling pattern, and thoracic extension isn’t part of the cervical coupling at all.

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