Validity of the lateral gliding test as tool for the diagnosis of intervertebral joint dysfunction in the lower cervical spine.

Objective: To determine if the lateral gliding test for the cervical spine is a valid clinical test compared with radiological assessment as a tool for the diagnosis of intervertebral joint dysfunctions in the lower cervical spine in patients presenting with mechanical neck pain.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with mechanical neck pain presenting with an asymmetry of at least 5 degrees between left and right cervical lateral flexion and diagnosed with an intervertebral joint dysfunction in the lower cervical spine based on the lateral gliding test were studied. Two anterior-posterior x-rays were performed on each patient at maximum end-range of right and left cervical lateral flexion. The intervertebral motion was compared between the hypomobile side and the contralateral side at the level diagnosed as hypomobile by the lateral gliding test.

Results: The asymmetry between left and right cervical lateral flexion motion was 7.64 degrees +/- 2.25 degrees (P = .001). Fourteen patients were diagnosed with intervertebral dysfunctions on the right side, whereas 11 patients showed cervical hypomobility on the left. Joint dysfunction at the C3 vertebra was the most prevalent (n = 16), followed by the dysfunction at the C4 vertebra (n = 9). The intervertebral radiological motion at the hypomobile side (mean 19.1, SD 2.1 mm) was 3.44 +/- 1.9 mm less than the intervertebral radiological motion at the contralateral side (mean 22.6, SD 2.5 mm) with P = .002.

Conclusions: The lateral gliding test for the cervical spine was as good as a radiological assessment for the diagnosis of intervertebral dysfunctions in the lower cervical spine.