Execution
- 1Have the patient sit upright with arms relaxed.
- 2Ask the patient to move the neck through repeated flexion, extension, side flexion, and rotation in a controlled combined pattern.
- 3The movement is performed toward the symptomatic side while the examiner watches for reproduction of familiar symptoms.
- 4Stop the test if severe pain, dizziness, neurological worsening, or vascular symptoms occur.
- 5Compare the reproduced symptoms with the patient's familiar radicular complaint.
Positive outcome
Reproduction of familiar radiating arm pain or paresthesia during the combined cervical movement pattern is positive. Non-specific neck discomfort alone is not sufficient.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park et al. (2017) | NA | 85 | 87 | 6.54 | 0.17 |
CommentNot in many traditional Magee-style test lists; based on the primary Neck Tornado Test diagnostic accuracy study. Early results are promising but require cautious interpretation because replication and external validation are limited.
Moderate Clinical Value