Clinical Tests | A list of clinical tests that detects/confirms a physical or mental feature which is regarded as an indication of a disease.
Purpose of Lhermitte’s Sign: To determine if there is a dural or meningeal irritation in the spine or to check if the dorsal column of the spinal cord is hyperexcitable due to demyelination. Patient position: Long sitting. Examiner position: Standing beside the examining table while the patient is in a long sitting position. Procedure: The examiner performs a gentle, passive flexion of the patient’s neck … Continue reading Lhermitte’s Sign
Purpose of Romberg’s Test: To determine if there is a lesion in the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway (also called as dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway – that conducts sensations such as fine touch, two-point discrimination, vibration and position sense (proprioception) from the skin and joints to the postcentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex) (1). The axons of this pathway cross midline in the medulla, called as internal arcuate … Continue reading Romberg’s Test
Purpose of Brachial plexus compression test: To determine if applying direct compression to the brachial plexus causes radiating symptoms, suggesting mechanically elicitable cervical spine lesions. Patient position: Sitting upright or lying supine. Examiner position: Standing behind while the patient is sitting; Standing on the head side while the patient is lying supine. Procedure: Apply compression directly on the brachial plexus using the fingers or thumb. Outcome: The test … Continue reading Brachial Plexus Compression Test
Purpose of Cervical distraction test is : To determine if radicular symptoms alleviate on applying traction to the cervical spine. To identify the presence of cervical radiculopathy among patients with upper quadrant pain. Patient Position: Sitting upright, Supine. Examiner Position: Beside the patient, Standing at the patient’s head side. Procedure: Place one hand on the chin and another hand on the occiput. Carefully apply distraction force cephalad. Ask … Continue reading Cervical distraction test
Purpose of Jackson’s compression test: To identify the presence of cervical radiculopathy among patients with upper quadrant pain. Patient Position: Sitting upright. Examiner Position: Beside or behind the patient. Procedure: Ask the patient to turn/rotate the head to the unaffected side. Carefully apply axial compression vertically downwards through the head. Repeat the same on the affected side. Outcome: The test is positive if the patient has radiating pain down the arm on … Continue reading Jackson’s compression test
