Spine Special Tests & Clinical Examination

Master diagnostic physical examination special tests for Spine. Sensitivity, specificity, and step-by-step performance guidelines.

Spurling's Test

Diagnosing Cervical Radiculopathy (compression of a nerve root in the neck)....

Read Guide →

Distraction Test

Confirming Cervical Radiculopathy by relieving symptoms....

Read Guide →

Lasegue Test (Straight Leg Raise)

Diagnosing Sciatica or Lumbar Disc Herniation (specifically L4-S1 nerve roots)....

Read Guide →

Crossed Over Lasegue (Well Leg Raise)

Diagnosing a Large Central Disc Herniation....

Read Guide →

Slump Test

Detecting Neural Tension anywhere in the spinal tract (more sensitive than the Straight Leg Raise)....

Read Guide →

Gaenslen Test

Provoking pain in the Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ)....

Read Guide →

Elvey Test (Upper Limb Tension Test)

Screening for Cervical Radiculopathy or Peripheral Nerve Entrapment in the arm....

Read Guide →

Shoulder Press Test

Differentiating Nerve Root pain from Muscle/Facet pain....

Read Guide →

Shoulder Abduction Test (Bakody)

Diagnosing Cervical Radiculopathy (specifically C4, C5, or C6 nerve roots)....

Read Guide →

Lhermitte Sign

Screening for Cervical Myelopathy (spinal cord compression), Multiple Sclerosis, or severe Stenosis....

Read Guide →

Prone Knee Flexion Test

Differentiating between Lumbar, SI Joint, and Femoral Nerve pathology....

Read Guide →

Spinous Process Tap Test

Screening for serious spinal pathology like Fracture, Infection, or Disc Herniation....

Read Guide →

Lasegue Drop Test

Identifying Lumbar or SI pain caused by sudden muscle guarding....

Read Guide →

Springing Test

Assessing Segmental Mobility (Stiffness vs Instability) and Pain provocation....

Read Guide →

Bragard Test

Differentiating Neural Pain from Hamstring Tightness....

Read Guide →

Three-Phase Hyperextension Test

Differentiating the source of pain: Hip vs. SI Joint vs. Lumbar Spine....

Read Guide →

Standing Flexion Test

Assessing Sacroiliac Joint Stiffness (Hypomobility)....

Read Guide →

Derbolowsky Test

Diagnosing Functional Leg Length Discrepancy caused by pelvic rotation....

Read Guide →

Yeoman Test

Stressing the Anterior Sacroiliac Ligaments....

Read Guide →

Spine Range of Motion

Measuring physiological limits of the spine....

Read Guide →

Schober Sign

Measuring Lumbar Flexion (specifically for Ankylosing Spondylitis)....

Read Guide →

Soto-Hall Test

Differentiating between Bone/Ligament pathology and Muscle pathology in the neck....

Read Guide →

Thigh Thrust Test

Provocation test for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction.Also called Posterior Shear Test....

Read Guide →

Beevor Sign

Diagnosing weakness of T10-T12 Nerve Roots or Spinal Cord Lesion....

Read Guide →

Femoral Nerve Stretch Test

Diagnosing High Lumbar Radiculopathy (L2-L4 Nerve Roots)....

Read Guide →

Alar Ligament Test

Assessing Upper Cervical Instability (specifically the Alar Ligament which stabilizes C2)....

Read Guide →

Vertebral Artery Test (VBI)

Screening for Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency (VBI) before performing cervical manipulation....

Read Guide →

Sharp-Purser Test

Assessing Atlantoaxial Instability (Transverse Ligament rupture).Commonly used in Rheumatoid Arthritis or Down Syndrome....

Read Guide →

Jackson's Compression Test

Diagnosing Cervical Radiculopathy (Alternative to Spurling's)....

Read Guide →

Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT)

Assessing endurance/control of Deep Neck Flexors (Longus Colli/Capitis).Crucial for whiplash and cervicogenic headache....

Read Guide →

Costoclavicular Syndrome Test (Military Brace)

Diagnosing TOS caused by compression between the clavicle and first rib....

Read Guide →

Chest Expansion Test

Diagnosing Ankylosing Spondylitis (Costovertebral joint stiffness)....

Read Guide →

Kemp's Test (Quadrant Test)

Diagnosing Facet Joint Syndrome or Lateral Stenosis....

Read Guide →

Stork Test (One-Leg Standing Extension)

Diagnosing Spondylolysis (Pars Interarticularis stress fracture) or Spondylolisthesis....

Read Guide →

Segmental Instability Test

Diagnosing Lumbar Segmental Instability....

Read Guide →

Hoover Test

Diagnosing Malingering or Functional Weakness (checking if effort is genuine)....

Read Guide →

SI Joint Compression Test

Provocation test for SI Joint Pain....

Read Guide →

SI Joint Distraction Test

Provocation test for SI Joint Pain....

Read Guide →

Sacral Thrust (Sacral Compression)

Provocation test for SI Joint Pain....

Read Guide →

Babinski Sign

Screening for Upper Motor Neuron Lesions (CNS pathology)....

Read Guide →

Ankle Clonus Test

Screening for Upper Motor Neuron Lesions (Hyper-reflexia)....

Read Guide →

Hoffmann's Sign

Screening for Cervical Myelopathy or Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) lesions....

Read Guide →

Kernig's Sign

Diagnosing Meningitis or Subarachnoid Hemorrhage....

Read Guide →

Romberg Test

Assessing Proprioception (Dorsal Columns) vs. Cerebellar Ataxia....

Read Guide →