Cervical Spine

Question 1

Foraminal Compression Test

Answer 1

Positive:
1. Exacerbation of Pain
2. Exacerbation of cervical pain with radicular component
Indicates:
1. Foraminal Encroachment or facet pathology without nerve root compression
2. Foraminal Encorachment or facet pathology with neve root compression

Question 2

Cervical Distraction Test

Answer 2

Positive:
1. Diminished or absence of localized pain
2. Diminished or absence of radicular pain
3. Increase of cervical pain
Indicates:
1. Foraminal encroachment (local pain diminishes)
2. Nerve Root Compression (radicular pain diminishes)
3. Muscular strain, ligamentous sprain, myospasm, facet capsulitis

Question 3

Spinal Percussion Test

Answer 3

Positive:
1. Local Pain
2. Radiating Pain
Indicates:
1. Possible fractured vertebrae, ligamentous involvement (spinous pain), and muscular involvement (muscular pain)
2. Possible disc pathology

Question 4

Shoulder Depression Test

Answer 4

Positive:
1. Localized pain on the side being tested
2. Radicular pain on side being tested
3. Radicular pain on opposite side being tested
Indicates:
1. LOCALIZED PAIN - dural sleeve attachment, and muscular adhesion/contracture, or spasm, or ligamentous injury
2. RADIATING PAIN on side being tested - neurovascular bundle compression, dural sleeve adhesion, or Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
3. RADIATING PAIN on side opposing being tested foramina encroachment with nerve root compression

Question 5

Valsalva Maneurver

Answer 5

Positive:
Radiating pain from site of lesion (usually recreating the complaint in cervical or lumbar area of the spine)
Indicates:
1. Space occupying lesion (e.g. disc pathology)

Question 6

Swallowing Test

Answer 6

Positive:
Difficulty swallowing
Indicates:
Space occupying lesion at anterior portion of cervical spine. Possibly esophageal or pharyngeal injury, anterior disc defect, muscle spasm or osteophytes etc

Question 7

Soto-Hall Sign

Answer 7

Positive:
Generalized pain in the cervical region, which may extend down to the level of T2
Indicates:
1. Non-specific test for structural integrity of cervical region

Question 8

Kerning Sign

Answer 8

Positive:
Inability to fully extend the leg and/or pain (usually in the neck region)
Indicates:
Meningeal irritation/meningitis

Question 9

O’Donoghue Maneuver

Answer 9

Positive:
1. Pain during passive range of motion
2. Pain during resisted range of motion
Indicates:
1. Ligamentous sprain (Passive ROM stresses ligaments)
2. Muscle/tendon strain (Active ROM stresses muscles and tendons)