2.1. Cervical Spine Special Tests Flashcards
(45 cards)
SPECIAL TESTS For Neurological Sx
Foraminal Compression (Spurling’s) Test
Maximum Cervical Compression Test
Jackson’s Compression Test
Distraction Test
Bakody’s Test (C4-C5 affectation)
Upper Limb Tension Test / Elvey Test
T OR F: Tests for Neurological Symptoms are designed to provoke neurological symptoms in most cases, but they do not necessarily tell where the pathology is originating.
TRUE
Tests for neurological symptoms that involve movement of the nerve
neurodynamic tests
assess the sensitivity of nerve roots and peripheral nerves to movement and tension caused by the movement
Pt bends or side flexes the head to the unaffected side first, then the affected
side & PT carefully presses straight down the head
Foraminal Compression (Spurling’s) Test
3 stages of Spurling’s Test
Head in neutral
Head in extension
Head in ext and rotation
Foraminal Compression (Spurling’s) Test may indicate what?
cervical radiculitis
implies pain in the dermatomal distribution
of the nerve root affected
Radiculitis
if the pain is felt in the opposite side during Spurling’s Test
Reverse Spurling’s Sign
Pt side flexes the head and rotates it to the same side
Maximum Cervical Compression Test
In Maximum Cervical Compression Test, pain on the concave side indicates _____ (2), whereas pain on the convex side indicates _____ (1)
nerve root or facet joint pathology
muscle strain
How many seconds should the Maximum Cervical Compression Test (c extension) to elicit VBI?
20-30 seconds
Modification of the foraminal compression test where Pt rotates the head to one side and PT then carefully presses straight down the head
Jackson’s Compression Test
used for patients who have complained of radicular symptoms in the history and show radicular signs during the examination
Distraction Test
In distraction test, PT places 1 hand under ___ with the other around the ____
pt’s chin; occiput
What indicates a (+) distraction test?
Pain is relieved or decreased when head is lifted;
Indicates relief of pressure pressing on the nerve roots
used to test for radicular symptoms, especially those involving the C4 or C5 nerve roots
Shoulder Abduction (Relief) Test/Bakody’s Sign
patient is sitting or lying down, and the examiner passively or the patient actively elevates the arm through abduction so that the hand or forearm rests on top of the head
Shoulder Abduction (Relief) Test/Bakody’s Sign
What indicates a (+) Bakody’s Sign?
decrease in or relief of symptoms
may indicate a cervical extradural compression problem, such as a herniated disc, epidural vein compression, or nerve root compression, usually in the C4–C5 or C5–C6 area
In Bakody’s sign, abduction of the arm _______ the length of the neurological pathway and ______ the pressure on the lower nerve roots? (increases or decreases)
decreases the length
decreases the pressure
T OR F: In Bakody’s Sign, if the pain increases with the positioning of the arm, it implies that pressure is increasing in the brachial plexus.
FALSE
it implies that pressure is increasing in the INTERSCALENE TRIANGLE.
equivalent to the straight leg raising (SLR) test in the lumbar spine
Upper Limb Neurodynamic Tension Tests (ULNT) / Brachial Plexus Tension or Elvey Test
T OR F: Modification of the position of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and fingers places greater stress on specific nerves (nerve bias).
TRUE
ULNT 1 nerve bias
Median nerve, anterior interosseous nerve, C5, C6, C7
ULNT 2 nerve bias
Median nerve, musculocutaneous nerve, axillary nerve
