ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the clinical evaluation and management of eight different thoracic and lumbar spine pathologies. It will be presented in a variety of settings, using both on-field and off-field scenarios and a diverse patient population. The pathologies presented in this chapter include both acute and chronic conditions and are a good representation of injuries encountered by a certified athletic trainer or commonly reported in the literature. The thoracic spine is considered to be the least mobile area of the spine. In an anatomical position, the thoracic spine's curvature is concave anteriorly and convex posteriorly, extending from the T2 to T12. It consists of 12 thoracic vertebrae, labeled as T1 through T12, with T1 being located below C7 around the base of the neck and T12 located before L1 at rib 12. The thoracic vertebrae are unique among the vertebrae in that they have two special joints, the costovertebral joint and costotransverse joint.
