Strength and reflexes
Testing individual muscles and tendon reflexes shows whether a nerve is conducting normally — and how severely it is affected.
Diagnostics · Standard
Neurological & Orthopaedic Examination
A hands-on clinical assessment of nerves, reflexes, strength and movement — usually the first step before any imaging.
What it is
The examination comes before the scan
Imaging shows structure; examination shows function. Before any picture is taken, your surgeon watches how you move, tests what your nerves do, and listens to exactly where it hurts — because a scan without a clinical examination is easy to misread.
Sensation mapping
Light touch and pinprick testing across the skin reveals which nerve territory is involved, since each spinal nerve supplies a defined patch of skin.
Tension signs
Gentle manoeuvres such as the straight-leg raise stretch irritated nerve roots. Reproducing your radiating pain this way points strongly to its source.
Gait and posture
How you walk, stand and bend shows balance, coordination and guarding — information no scan can provide on its own.
Certain findings — such as numbness in the saddle area, new bladder or bowel changes, or rapidly progressive weakness — need urgent assessment. Mention them immediately if they apply to you.
Common questions
Things patients ask us
Does the examination hurt?
No. It uses gentle movements, light touch and tendon taps. If any manoeuvre reproduces your pain, say so — that response is itself useful information.
Why test my arms or legs when my back hurts?
Spinal nerves travel into the limbs, so weakness, numbness or reflex changes in an arm or leg often locate the exact spinal level at fault.
What should I bring?
A list of your current medications and any imaging or reports you already have. Wear clothing that lets the examiner see your spine move.
What if the examination is normal?
That is useful too — it steers the assessment toward imaging or other causes rather than a pinched nerve, and the team explains what comes next.
Start with your case.
Send your history and any imaging you already have. The ProSpine team will review your case and respond with the next steps.
Free · No obligation · Reviewed by the ProSpine team