Best Practice Case Studies-Case 157 Asset 1 Cervical Radiculopathy

Case 157 Asset 1 Cervical Radiculopathy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker, a physical therapist, explains how to assess a possible C5 cervical radiculopathy. He notes that symptoms can be vague and that Spurling’s/quadrant test may be negative. To help confirm C5 involvement, he checks reflexes, especially the biceps, and also evaluates deltoid strength and brachioradialis response. He emphasizes manual muscle testing with repeated holds to reveal fatigability, since weakness may not appear immediately. By rotating the neck to close and then open the foramen, he can reproduce and then relieve weakness, helping rule in a C5 radiculopathy more specifically.

Meta Tag

Edition 4th Edition

Related Case 4th Edition, Case 157

Topic Spine

Keywords

4th Edition

4th Edition, Case 157

Spine

C5 cervical radiculopathy

Spurling test

biceps reflex

deltoid strength

manual muscle testing