Spurling's Test
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Purpose
[edit | edit source]
The Spurling's test is used during a musculoskeletal assessment of the cervical spine when looking for cervical nerve root compression causing cervical radiculopathy[1].
Technique[edit | edit source]
The patient is seated comfortably while physiotherapist stands behind the patient. The physiotherapist then interlocks their fingers and rests the volar aspect of both hands on top of the patient's head. The therapist then laterally flexes the patient's neck 30 degrees to the affected side and then applies a downward axial compression ensure not to laterally flex the patient's neck any further.[1]
Positive: when the pain arising in the neck radiates in the direction of the corresponding dermatome ipsilaterally
| [3] |
[4] |
Evidence[edit | edit source]
Diagnostic Accuracy[5][edit | edit source]
Sensitivity= .50
Specificity= .88
-LR = .58
+LR= 3.5
Reliability[5][edit | edit source]
Kappa= .60
Additional Resources[edit | edit source]
Tong HC, Haig AJ, Yamakawa K. The Spurling test and cervical radiculopathy. Spine. 2002:27(2):156-9.
Rubinstein SM, Pool JJ, van Tulder MW, Riphagen II, de Vet HC. A systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of provocative tests of the neck for diagnosing cervical radiculopathy. Eur Spine J. 2007: 16: 307-319.
Shah KC, Rajshekhar V. Reliability of diagnosis of soft cervical disc prolapse using Spurling's test. British Journal of Neurosurgery. 2004: 18(5): 480-483.
Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Konin JG, Wiksten DL, Isear JA, Brader H. Special Tests for Orthopedic Examination. Thorofare: SLACK Incorporated; 2006.
- ↑ Online Video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwR9EcKN_Jc, last accessed on 6/4/09
- ↑ Clinically Relevant Technologies, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBR6M8gCajg, last accessed May 2011
- ↑ Clinically Relevant Technologies, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dBBwTbCCls, last accessed May 2011
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Flynn TW, Cleland JA, Whitman JM. Users' Guide to the Musculoskeletal Examination. Buckner: Evidence in Motion; 2008.
