Author: drspine

Spurling test is a hands-on neck exam used to check for signs of cervical radiculopathy (a “pinched nerve” in the neck). It is commonly performed in spine clinics, physical therapy settings, and primary care evaluations for neck and arm symptoms. The test aims to reproduce a patient’s familiar arm pain, tingling, or numbness by gently stressing the neck in a controlled way. It is one piece of the overall clinical puzzle, not a diagnosis by itself.

High-Sensitivity Troponin is a blood test that measures very small amounts of troponin released from heart muscle cells. Troponin is a protein involved in heart muscle contraction. Clinicians use High-Sensitivity Troponin most often when evaluating symptoms that could be related to a heart attack. It is commonly used in emergency departments, hospitals, and chest pain evaluation pathways.

Lasègue sign is a physical exam finding used when evaluating back and leg pain. It is most commonly checked during the straight leg raise test. A “positive” Lasègue sign means the maneuver reproduces nerve-type leg symptoms in a typical pattern. It is widely used in spine, orthopedic, neurosurgical, and pain clinics.

Troponin is a group of proteins found inside muscle cells. In heart care, “Troponin” usually means a blood test that looks for heart-muscle injury. Clinicians use Troponin most often when evaluating chest pain, shortness of breath, or other possible heart symptoms. It is interpreted alongside the history, exam, electrocardiogram (ECG), and other tests.

Crossed straight leg raise is a physical exam maneuver used to evaluate leg pain that may be coming from the lower back. It is performed by lifting the *unaffected* leg while watching for pain that radiates down the *opposite* symptomatic leg. Clinicians most often use it during a spine, orthopedic, neurosurgical, or sports medicine evaluation. It is one piece of the broader neurologic and musculoskeletal exam for suspected lumbar nerve irritation.

ABPM stands for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. It is a method of measuring blood pressure repeatedly over a full day and night while a person goes about usual activities. It typically uses a cuff on the upper arm connected to a small recording device worn on a belt or shoulder strap. It is commonly used in primary care, cardiology, nephrology, and hypertension clinics.

SLR positive means the **Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test** reproduces symptoms in a way that suggests irritation of a lower back nerve. It is a common finding documented during a **spine, neurology, orthopedic, or physical medicine** exam. In plain terms, it helps clinicians tell whether leg pain may be coming from the **lumbar spine** rather than only the hip or muscles. It is most often discussed in evaluations for **sciatica-like pain**.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring is a way to measure blood pressure repeatedly while a person goes about a typical day and night. It uses a wearable cuff and a small recorder to capture readings over many hours. It is commonly used in outpatient cardiology, primary care, hypertension clinics, and some hospital follow-up settings. It helps clinicians understand how blood pressure behaves outside the exam room.

Positive straight leg raise is a clinical exam finding from the straight leg raise (SLR) test. It usually means lifting a straightened leg reproduces nerve-type leg pain, often from the lower back. Clinicians commonly use it in spine and musculoskeletal exams to screen for lumbar nerve irritation. It is most often discussed in the context of sciatica and lumbar radiculopathy.

Blood Pressure Monitoring is the measurement of the pressure of blood inside arteries as the heart beats and relaxes. It is commonly used in clinics, hospitals, and at home to assess cardiovascular health. Results are typically reported as two numbers: systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is a core tool in screening, diagnosis, and follow-up for many heart and vascular conditions.