The Accuracy of the Physical Examination for the Diagnosis of Midlumbar and Low Lumbar Nerve Root Impingement.

The article discusses a study on the performance characteristics of single physical examination on patients with lumbosacral radicular pain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on midlumbar, low lumbar and level-specific nerve root impingement. Patients with lower extremity radiating pain for less than 12 weeks were eligible to participate. It concludes that physical examination can provide useful diagnostic information for detecting midlumbar, low lumbar and level-specific nerve root impingement on MRI.