Creatine Kinase is an enzyme found mostly in heart and skeletal muscle. It helps cells manage energy during muscle activity. A blood test can measure Creatine Kinase when muscle injury is suspected. It is commonly discussed in emergency and cardiovascular care as a “muscle damage” marker.

Shoulder abduction relief sign is a physical exam finding where lifting the arm (abduction) reduces pain, tingling, or numbness radiating from the neck into the arm. It is commonly assessed in people with suspected cervical radiculopathy (irritation or compression of a neck nerve root). Some clinicians refer to a similar concept as the “hand-on-head” maneuver or Bakody sign. It is used in spine, neurology, orthopedics, physiatry, and pain medicine exams as part of a broader neck and arm evaluation.

CK-MB is a form of the enzyme creatine kinase that is found in heart muscle. It can be measured with a blood test when clinicians suspect heart muscle injury. CK-MB was historically central to diagnosing heart attacks and monitoring reinfarction. Today it is used less often than cardiac troponin, but it still appears in some clinical pathways.

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**.