| |
|
INJURY TITLE
| Vertebrobasillar Insufficiency |
INJURY OVERVIEW
| Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) refers to a temporary set of symptoms due to decreased blood flow in the circulation to the back of the brain. The circulation supplies different parts of the brain and so symptoms will vary depending on which portions of the brain have reduced blood supply. |
INJURY IN-DEPTH INFORMATION
| The incidence of VBI increases with age and typically occurs in the seventh or eighth decade of life. The vascular pathology called atherosclerosis, is the most common cause of VBI, it affects men twice as often as women and patients with hypertension, diabetes, and smoking have a higher risk of developing VBI.
Mechanical forces acting upon the neck at any age can cause VBI by exacerbating arterial insufficiency or outright occluding one or both vertebrobasilar arteries. Internal forces include those caused by turning the head to an extreme angle to the side, especially with the neck extended. The patient can create this condition while practicing yoga, driving a vehicle in reverse, shooting a bow and arrow, bird watching, or stargazing. External forces include those caused by sports or other physical contact.
|
COMMON SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
|
HOW IS IT ASSESSED
|
GENERAL TREATMENT
| Best handled with medication and medical review. |
Exercise Videos: i.e.
|
WHICH HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO CONSULT
|
PHYSIO X |
MEDIC X |
PODIATRY |
Put an ‘X’ next to each health professional that most commonly deals with this injury.
i.e. tennis elbow would be Physio and Medic as injections are common, whereas for muscular LBP it would be Physio and not Medic as they would just refer them to a Physio.