Cervical Examination

Subjective

Patient Intake

• Self‐report
• Performance‐based outcome measures - Neck Disability Index
• Region‐specific historical examination

Special Questions

• Red Flags
• Yellow Flags
  

Investigations

• Radiological Considerations
  

Objective

Observation

• Posture
• Movement Patterns

Functional Tests

• Looking up, transferring sit stand, lifting one or both arms overhead

Palpation

• supine— temporal mandibular joint, auditory meatus, mastoid process, atlas (C1) transverse processes, clavicle, soft tissue both posterior and anterior, hyoid bone, articular pillars, C2-C7 spinous processes
• prone—occipital process, nuchal line, spinous processes, transverse processes, soft tissue
• seated – first rib

Movement Testing

• AROM, PROM, and Overpressure
• Passive Intervertebral Motion
• Muscle Strength specific to Cervical Spine
• Cranio‐cervical Flexion Test
  

Special Tests

• Spurling’s Test
• Vertebral Artery Test
• Sharp‐Purser Test
• Transverse Ligament Stress Test
• Slump Test
• Upper Limb Tension Test (ULTT‐A)
• Distraction Test
• Shoulder Abduction Test
• Rhomberg’s Test
• Babinski’s Reflex
• Lhermitte’s Test
• Cranio‐cervical Flexion Test
• Thoracic Outlet Tests
• Test for First Rib Mobility