Cervical spine distraction test – What is the purpose, indication and relevance?

Cervical Distraction Test: Client is supine. Practitioner places one hand under clients posterior occiput and the other on the forehead, slightly flexing the neck, and applies traction to create space between the vertebrae and vertebral foramen through which the nerves emerge.

Purpose:

• Assess where pain is due to nerve root compression

Indications:

• Cervical pain

Relevance:

• Positive test – relief or decrease in pain and tingling in arms is indicative or nerve root compression

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This post was written by Omar Rifai