Understanding the Shoulder Abduction Relief Sign (Bakody's Sign) Assessment
To provide a highly sensitive sign for **Cervical Radiculopathy**, usually at the C5 or C6 nerve root level.
Watch How It's Done
How do I start?
Patient is sitting, typically complaining of radiating arm pain.
What happens?
The patient is instructed to **place their hand or forearm on top of their head**, supporting the elbow with the other hand.
In Plain English
What Does a Positive Result Mean?
A **decrease or complete relief of radicular symptoms** (pain, numbness, tingling) in the arm within 30-60 seconds.
Helpful Tip:
Placing the arm overhead lessens the tension on the nerve root by shortening the distance the nerve has to travel from the neck to the hand.
Safety First
This guide is to help you understand what happens in a clinic. Do not try to diagnose yourself. If you have severe pain, swelling, or cannot put weight on your leg, please visit an urgent care center or your doctor immediately.
Other Cervical Spine Tests
Distraction Test (Cervical)
To relieve symptoms associated with **Cervical Radiculopathy** (nerve root compression) or **Facet Joint irritation**.
Foraminal Compression Test (Spurling's Test)
To detect **Cervical Radiculopathy** caused by nerve root compression, usually due to **foraminal stenosis** (bone spurs) or a **disc herniation**.
Jackson Compression Test (Vertical Compression)
To detect general **nerve root irritation** or **facet joint pathology** (less specific than Spurling's).
Lhermitte's Sign
To screen for **central nervous system pathology** such as **Multiple Sclerosis (MS)**, cervical myelopathy, or other spinal cord lesions.