About Courses Library Newsletter Contact

Multidisciplinary Shoulder & Elbow Society Library

Our comprehensive library has everything you need to help you better understand your patients' shoulder or elbow problems.

Spurling Test

cervical spine cervicogenic pain myofascial pain neck pain orthopaedic special test radiculopathy shoulder pain spurling test upper trapezius
Spurling Test, Cervicogenic Pain, Radiculopathy

Orthopaedic Special Test

Spurling Test

We can recreate the patient’s radicular symptoms by stretching the nerve root, such as coughing, sneezing, Valsalva, and certain cervical movements and positions.

Spurling's test, also known as the maximal cervical compression test or foraminal compression test, is a physical exam that helps diagnose a pinched nerve in the neck, also known as cervical radiculopathy. The test involves gently applying pressure to the neck while it's tilted and rotated.  This test helps differentiate cervical radiculopathy from other problems such as shoulder pain.

A cluster of three tests, (1) the extension-rotation test (kemp’s or spurling’s type maneuver), (2) manual spinal examination, and (3) palpation for segmental tenderness, has shown to be sensitive (94%) and specific (84%) for diagnosing cervical facet joint dysfunction.

 

Schneider GM, Jull G, Thomas K, Smith A, Emery C, Faris P, Cook C, Frizzell B, Salo P. Derivation of a clinical decision guide in the diagnosis of cervical facet joint pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Sep;95(9):1695-701. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.02.026. Epub 2014 Mar 21. PMID: 24662813.

Categories

All Categories ac joint dislocations ac joint separations acromioclavicular joint adhesive capsulitis advice anatomy antuna and seebauer classification arthroscopic subacromial decompression bursa capsule case of the week case study cervical spine cervicogenic pain charcot classification classification systems clinical pearls codman conservative continous learning continuing education corticosteroid cortisone cross-body adduction test cubital tunnel syndrome deltoid drop-arm sign dunning-krugger effect elbow elbow arthritis elbow arthroscopy elbow contractures elbow ct scan elbow imaging elbow osteoarthritis elbow pain elbow radiographs elbow septic arthritis elbow stability elbow stiffness elbow surgery elbow x-rays empty can epidemiology external rotation resistance flexor pronator strain force couple frozen shoulder full can glenohumeral joint glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis glenohumeral ligament glenoid bone loss hawkins-kennedy hemiarthroplasty historical definitions impingement infographic injection injury instability joint journal of shoulder and elbow surgery labral tears labrum lift-off test ligaments management muscles myofascial pain neck pain neer's sign neuropathic arthropathy neuropathy nonoperative normal shoulder orthopaedic special test orthopaedic special tests orthopaedics osteoarthritis osteomyelitis pain relief painful arc pathomechanics patient guide physiotherapy quiz question quiz question of the week radiculopathy range of motion rehabilitation revision surgery rotator cuff rotator cuff related pain rotator cuff tendinopathy scapular tilt scapulothoracic motion screw axes glenohumeral joint shoulder shoulder & elbow specialists shoulder arthritis shoulder dislocation shoulder instability shoulder motion shoulder osteoarthritis shoulder pain shoulder stability slap spurling test stability stable shoulder subacromial impingement subacromial pain syndrome subacromial space surgery synovial membrane the rockwood classification the unstable shoulder throwing injuries total shoulder arthroplasty trauma traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation treatment tubs ulnar collateral ligament injury ulnar nerve upper trapezius
FREE GIFT: SHOULDER CARE ALGORITHM INFOGRAPHIC

Join Our Newsletter & Get a FREE Membership

By signing up you for our newsletter you will get a FREE membership to the Multidisciplinary Shoulder & Elbow Society and we will send you our Shoulder Care Algorithm Infographic which was created and is used by our shoulder & elbow fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeons. On top of that you will receive our weekly newsletter which includes articles, educational resource, surgeon clinical pearls, along with access to instructional courses and the annual meeting.

You're safe with me. I'll never spam you or sell your contact info.