Spinous Process Tap Test

What is the "Spinous Process Tap Test" used for?

• Spinous Process Tap Test is used to indicates lumbar spine syndrome.

How to perform the "Spinous Process Tap Test"?

• The patient is seated with the spine slightly flexed. With a reflex mallet, the examiner taps on the spinous processes of the lumbar spine and on the paraspinal musculature.

What is the positive result?

• Localized pain can indicate irritation of the involved spinal segments as a result of degenerative inflammatory changes.
• Radicular pain can be a sign of disk pathology.

References

• Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal 3rd Ed. Book