CPT code 73222: MRI upper extremity joint with contrast
CPT code 73222 reports magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of any joint of the upper extremity, with contrast material(s). That descriptor comes from the American Medical Association (AMA), which maintains the CPT code set. The code sits in the Diagnostic Radiology section and applies when contrast is administered during MRI of the shoulder, elbow, or wrist. […]
Elbow flexion test for cubital tunnel syndrome
A positive elbow flexion test reproduces tingling in the ring and little fingers. Sensitivity swings from 25% to 87% by variant.
Pain assessment scales: How to choose and document them
Which pain assessment scales are validated, how much a score must change to matter, and how to record scores so they trend.
External rotation lag sign test: technique, grading, and accuracy
What is the external rotation lag sign test? The external rotation lag sign test (ERLS) is a passive clinical assessment that detects full-thickness tears of the infraspinatus and supraspinatus tendons. Also called the lateral rotation lag sign, it works by holding the shoulder at near-maximal external rotation and then letting go of the wrist. If […]
Sign of the buttock test: how to perform and interpret findings
What is the sign of the buttock test? The sign of the buttock test is a red-flag screen used across musculoskeletal and physical therapy practices. Described by orthopedic physician James Cyriax, it detects serious pathology in or behind the hip joint. It works by comparing two passive movements. One is a straight leg raise (SLR). […]
7-color LED light therapy chart: Free PDF template
Download your free 7-color LED light therapy chart template Two printable pages. Page one lists all seven wavelengths with their target concern, mechanism, and session length, next to a pre-treatment screening checklist. Page two gives you a concern-first lookup table and a blank session log. Download template A 7-color LED light therapy chart tells you […]
Passive compression test: Procedure, interpretation and accuracy
SLAP tears are hard to confirm on clinical examination alone. Most shoulder special tests were described before diagnostic accuracy studies were routine, so clinicians inherited a crowded toolkit with thin evidence behind it. The passive compression test is better documented than most of them. It came out of a peer-reviewed study, it carries published sensitivity […]
Squish test: How to perform, interpret, and document findings
What is the squish test and why does it matter in clinical practice? A sacroiliac joint diagnosis depends on including a dedicated pelvic provocation test in the examination sequence. The squish test is one of the fastest tests to add to that sequence. The squish test is a manual pelvic compression provocation test. The clinician […]
Gaze stabilization test: Administration, scoring, and interpretation
What is the gaze stabilization test and why does it matter clinically? Most patients with vestibular dysfunction don’t complain of spinning rooms. They complain that the world blurs when they turn their head, that reading signs is difficult on a moving bus, that crowded spaces feel destabilizing. These are gaze stability failures, and the gaze […]
Reverse Lachman test: Technique, grading, and PCL interpretation
What is the reverse lachman test and when should you use it? The reverse lachman test is the go-to clinical orthopedic test for assessing posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) integrity. Most clinicians who have trained in knee assessment know the standard Lachman test for ACL tears. The reverse variation flips the force direction. Instead of pulling […]