ICD-10 Code M18.0: Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of the thumb (CMC) joints
ICD-10 Code M18.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM code for bilateral primary osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joints, the saddle-shaped joints at the base of each thumb. It describes wear-and-tear (idiopathic) arthritis in both thumb basal joints, with no prior injury or secondary cause. This reference covers the code’s billable status, hierarchy, inclusion terms, related-code comparisons, […]
Foot stress fracture test: Clinical tests, home checks, and imaging
A positive single-leg hop test and point tenderness point to a foot stress fracture. MRI confirms it when early X-rays miss it.
Manual muscle testing: Grades, technique, and clinical use
Most physiotherapy students learn the 0-5 scale in their first semester. Applying it consistently is the harder skill, especially at the top of the scale, where the difference between a 4 and a 5 can change a discharge decision. Manual muscle testing is one of the most widely used assessment tools in rehabilitation, sports medicine, […]
Finkelstein test: Procedure, interpretation, and clinical workflow
Radial-sided wrist pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal presentations in physical therapy, sports medicine, and occupational health practices. Without a reliable provocation test, distinguishing De Quervain’s tenosynovitis from intersection syndrome, basilar thumb arthritis, or a scaphoid injury is largely guesswork. The Finkelstein test addresses this directly: a simple, reproducible maneuver that stresses the […]
Deep Oscillation Therapy Template
Download your free deep oscillation therapy protocol template Deep Oscillation Therapy Aftercare Guidelines A comprehensive post-treatment protocol covering patient care instructions, recovery expectations, safety considerations, and activity guidelines to optimize healing outcomes following deep oscillation therapy sessions. Download template Deep oscillation therapy: Clinical reference guide for practitioners Deep oscillation therapy is a non-invasive physical therapy […]
Resisted external derotation test: How to perform and interpret
Lateral hip pain accounts for a substantial share of musculoskeletal presentations in primary care and physical therapy practices, yet it remains one of the most misdiagnosed regions in the body. The resisted external derotation test gives clinicians a fast, reliable bedside tool to determine whether the gluteal tendons are the likely pain source, narrowing the […]
Barlow and Ortolani test: Technique, interpretation, and referral
Missed developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is one of the most litigated conditions in pediatric primary care. The Barlow and Ortolani test is the frontline screen used to catch it. Most cases are detectable at birth with a careful physical examination. However, clinical audit data consistently shows that examination technique varies widely between practitioners. […]
Noble compression test: How to perform and interpret results
Most lateral knee pain in runners gets blamed on the IT band. The Noble compression test helps confirm whether iliotibial band syndrome is the real cause. The challenge is proving it. The noble compression test, also known as Noble’s test, is a quick, hands-on tool clinicians use during a physical exam. It provokes the characteristic […]
CPT Code 97039: Unlisted modality, constant attendance billing guide
CPT Code 97039 is an unlisted physical medicine modality code, billed when a therapeutic modality requires constant provider attendance but has no dedicated CPT code of its own. The official descriptor requires specifying the modality type and the time in attendance, and most claim denials trace back to one of those two elements missing from […]
Gaenslen’s test: How to perform and interpret it
Most guides to Gaenslen’s test stop at the description: flex one hip, extend the other, and watch for pain. That leaves the harder questions unanswered. So what actually counts as a positive result? Why does the test throw so many false positives, and where does it belong in a sacroiliac joint (SIJ) workup? This guide […]