Which joint is strained by the described movement in the technique?

Which joint is strained by the described movement in the technique?

• A. Costotransverse articulation
• B. Costovertebral articulation
• C. Facet joint
• D. Intervertebral disc

Answer: (A)

The movement described targets the rib’s motion at the costotransverse joint. This joint is where the tubercle of the rib articulates with the transverse process of the same-numbered vertebra, allowing the rib to glide as the thorax expands and as rib mobilization techniques are applied. When the technique involves rib movement that pressures or slides the tubercle against the transverse process, the costotransverse articulation bears the strain. The other joints play different roles. The costovertebral joints connect the rib head with the vertebral bodies and intervertebral disc, so movements that specifically move the rib head between vertebral bodies would stress those joints more. The facet joints are the posterior articulations between adjacent vertebrae and are mainly involved in spinal segment motions like flexion, extension, and rotation of the spine itself. The intervertebral discs resist and distribute compressive loads between vertebral bodies. In this technique, the rib-tubercle–transverse process interaction is the primary load, pointing to the costotransverse joint as the strained structure.

The movement described targets the rib’s motion at the costotransverse joint. This joint is where the tubercle of the rib articulates with the transverse process of the same-numbered vertebra, allowing the rib to glide as the thorax expands and as rib mobilization techniques are applied. When the technique involves rib movement that pressures or slides the tubercle against the transverse process, the costotransverse articulation bears the strain.

The other joints play different roles. The costovertebral joints connect the rib head with the vertebral bodies and intervertebral disc, so movements that specifically move the rib head between vertebral bodies would stress those joints more. The facet joints are the posterior articulations between adjacent vertebrae and are mainly involved in spinal segment motions like flexion, extension, and rotation of the spine itself. The intervertebral discs resist and distribute compressive loads between vertebral bodies. In this technique, the rib-tubercle–transverse process interaction is the primary load, pointing to the costotransverse joint as the strained structure.