Kemper Tailbone Injury Foundation

• Definitions
• Questions & Answers
• The SacroCoccygeal Syndrome
• The SacroCoccygeal Reflex
• The SacroCoccygeal Exam
• Photo Gallery
  • Coccyx Illustrations
  • Coccyx X-Rays
  • Patient Before & After
• KTIF Staff
  • Dr. Chris Kemper
  • Associates
• Research
  • Retrospective
  • Prospective
  • KTIF Global Data Collection
  • Articles
  • Coccyx Dystocia Abstract
  • Coccyx Dysfunction
  • SacroCoccygeal Syndrome Case Study
• References
• Products

Definitions

Coccydynia - a general term for coccyx pain without deference to the cause.

Coccygeal Range of Motion - the amount of motion a coccyx can achieve, in flexion and extension during various activities. Currently, coccygeal range of motion values vary widely from text to text and authority to authority. General, the most commonly held belief is that the coccyx, normally, has little or no natural motion. Wooley and Kemper may be the first to clinically establish a much greater range of motion necessary for both normal and pain free spinal health. They claim that between 30 to 70 degrees is optimal for women and 30 to 50 degrees is optimal for men, when tested by physicians with firm, intra-rectal, bi-digital palpation method.  

External thigh rotators - Those pelvic muscles directly or indirectly responsible for outward rotation of the thigh and leg. Important for both stable posture and coordinated ambulation. Primary muscle group seriously weakened in many cases by the SacroCoccygeal Syndrome, according to the Kemper Tailbone Injury Foundation.
Obturator externus and internus, Piriformis, Gemelli superior and inferior, Gluteus minimus, Quadratus femoris. http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/HipExernalRotators.html

Fractured or Dislocated Diagnosis: The most common diagnosis made by radiologists for coccygeal injuries. While common trauma can cause coccyges to often displace forward resulting in the SacroCoccygeal Syndrome, they rarely actually fracture.

Internal thigh rotators - Gluteus medius, Adductor longus and brevis, Pectineus, Hamstrings-medial, Semitendonosus, Semimembranosus, Tensor fascia lata. Primary muscle group seriously weakened in many cases by the SacroCoccygeal Syndrome, according to the Kemper Tailbone Injury Foundation. Important for both stable posture and coordinated ambulation. Exercise reference: http://runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-263-266-9107-0,00.html

Kemper-Wooley Procedure - The procedure where coccygeal range of motion is provoked into optimal range of motion to relieve the SacroCoccygeal syndrome

Motor Weakness - The amount of strength a given skeletal muscle can exert under voluntary effort.

Referred pain: Pain signals originating in one part of the body but experienced in another area of the body. Frequently the cause of a misdiagnosis. Coccyx injuries, for example, often create no actual pain at the coccyx, instead referring pain to the back, hips, thighs and legs.

SacroCoccygeal Joint Complex  - The muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia dynamically associated with the lumbosacral, sacroiliac, pubic and sacrococcygeal joints.

SacroCoccygeal Reflex - Thought by Wooley and Kemper et al. to be a powerful neurologic event triggered by abnormal dural tension exerted by a dysfunctional coccyx upon the spinal cord. Responsible for the three abnormal clinical signs seen in patients with the SacroCoccygeal syndrome. Readily relieved by the Kemper-Wooley Procedure when coccygeal function is successfully restored.

SacroCoccygeal Syndrome - A group of abnormal physical signs affecting patients with coccyx injuries, founded by Kemper and Wooley et al.

Sciatica - pronounced (si-at-i-ca) is a form of neuritis caused by irritation to the spinal nerves L4 - S3.

Straight Leg Raise - An orthopedic test to assess forward spinal flexibility thought to be a bell weather of spinal function. The test is useful in diagnosing dural tension caused by disc protrusion and the SacroCoccygeal Syndrome.

Tailbone Cushion - Kemper Pressure Reliever Tailbone Cushion is are high quality multi layer cushion designed to optimally reduce pressure exerted upon the coccyx & ischia while sitting. Made from non-viscoelastic foam designed to last 8-10 years according to the Polyurethane Foam Association. http://www.pfa.org

Trunk Flexion - An orthopedic test to assess forward spinal flexibility thought to be a bell- weather of spinal function. The amount of forward bend the spine, pelvis and hips can achieve without straining. Kemper et al. use the test as one indicator of the SacroCoccygeal Syndrome thought to directly affect performance of the test.

Wooley-Kemper Procedure - The procedure where coccygeal range of motion is provoked into optimal range of motion to relieve the SacroCoccygeal syndrome.