1|Page
NBCE EXAM PART 3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025
Foraminal Compression Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ The
patient is seated and actively rotates head from side to
side. Then the doctor exerts downward pressure and the
head is rotated to each side with pressure.
Positive Radicular Pain -> Nerve Root Compression
Positive Local Pain -> Foraminal Encroachment
Jackson's Compression Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ The
patient is seated and the doctor laterally flexes the
patient head to the left and the right and applies
downward pressure.
Postive Radicular Pain -> Nerve Root Compression
Distraction Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ The patient is
seated and the doctor holds under the mastoid and pulls
,2|Page
the patient's head superior, removing the weight of the
head.
"What did you experience?"
Decreased Pain -> Nerve Root Compression
Increased Pain -> Sprain/Strain
O'Donohue's Test is for.... - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Determining whether it is a SPRAIN or STRAIN
O'Donohue's Test Performed - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ 1)
Patient actively moves part against resistance.
2) Then the doctor moves part passively through a full
ROM.
Pain Active: STRAIN (damage in mm tissue)
Pain Passive: SPRAIN (damage I'm ligamentous tissue)
,3|Page
Valsalva's Maneuver - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ The doctor
asks the patient to take a deep breath and hold while
bearing down.
Postive Radicular Pain -> SOL
Maximal Cervical Compression Test - ....ANSWER
....✔✔ Patient is seated and actively rotated and
extended head. If no pain the patient is asked to
maximally laterally flex head in the same direction.
Repeat on the other side. No compression applied.
Postive Radicular pain -> Nerve Root Compression
Shoulder Depression Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Patient
is seated, the doctor depressed the patient's shoulder
while laterally flexing the cervical spine away from the
shoulder. Repeat on other side.
Postive Pain -> Nerve Root Adhesion
Soto Hall Sign - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Patient supine
and the doctor places one hand on the patient's stream
, 4|Page
and passively flexes the patient's head towards his/her
chest.
Positive localized pain -> ant: fracture/ post: ligament
tear
Bakody's Test AKA Shoulder Abduction Test -
....ANSWER ....✔✔ Patient is seated and placed
affected arm's palm on top of their head. The elbow
should be at the level of the head.
Postive Relief of Pain -> IVF encroachment
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome AKA - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Neurovascular Compression Syndrome
Allen's Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Patient is seated with
their elbow flexed and forearm supinated. Ask patient
to pump their hand while doctor occludes the radial and
ulnar arteries until hand whitens. The patient the opens
hand and doctor releases on artery, recording fill time
(until hand regains color). Repeat for other artery.
Postive for delay more than 10 seconds -> occlusion of
the tested artery
NBCE EXAM PART 3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025
Foraminal Compression Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ The
patient is seated and actively rotates head from side to
side. Then the doctor exerts downward pressure and the
head is rotated to each side with pressure.
Positive Radicular Pain -> Nerve Root Compression
Positive Local Pain -> Foraminal Encroachment
Jackson's Compression Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ The
patient is seated and the doctor laterally flexes the
patient head to the left and the right and applies
downward pressure.
Postive Radicular Pain -> Nerve Root Compression
Distraction Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ The patient is
seated and the doctor holds under the mastoid and pulls
,2|Page
the patient's head superior, removing the weight of the
head.
"What did you experience?"
Decreased Pain -> Nerve Root Compression
Increased Pain -> Sprain/Strain
O'Donohue's Test is for.... - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Determining whether it is a SPRAIN or STRAIN
O'Donohue's Test Performed - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ 1)
Patient actively moves part against resistance.
2) Then the doctor moves part passively through a full
ROM.
Pain Active: STRAIN (damage in mm tissue)
Pain Passive: SPRAIN (damage I'm ligamentous tissue)
,3|Page
Valsalva's Maneuver - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ The doctor
asks the patient to take a deep breath and hold while
bearing down.
Postive Radicular Pain -> SOL
Maximal Cervical Compression Test - ....ANSWER
....✔✔ Patient is seated and actively rotated and
extended head. If no pain the patient is asked to
maximally laterally flex head in the same direction.
Repeat on the other side. No compression applied.
Postive Radicular pain -> Nerve Root Compression
Shoulder Depression Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Patient
is seated, the doctor depressed the patient's shoulder
while laterally flexing the cervical spine away from the
shoulder. Repeat on other side.
Postive Pain -> Nerve Root Adhesion
Soto Hall Sign - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Patient supine
and the doctor places one hand on the patient's stream
, 4|Page
and passively flexes the patient's head towards his/her
chest.
Positive localized pain -> ant: fracture/ post: ligament
tear
Bakody's Test AKA Shoulder Abduction Test -
....ANSWER ....✔✔ Patient is seated and placed
affected arm's palm on top of their head. The elbow
should be at the level of the head.
Postive Relief of Pain -> IVF encroachment
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome AKA - ....ANSWER ....✔✔
Neurovascular Compression Syndrome
Allen's Test - ....ANSWER ....✔✔ Patient is seated with
their elbow flexed and forearm supinated. Ask patient
to pump their hand while doctor occludes the radial and
ulnar arteries until hand whitens. The patient the opens
hand and doctor releases on artery, recording fill time
(until hand regains color). Repeat for other artery.
Postive for delay more than 10 seconds -> occlusion of
the tested artery
