Red flags and contraindications

Question 1

Lumbar Red flags

Answer 1

• Bladder and bowel dysfunction
• Saddle anasthesia
• Bilateral parasthesia
• Bilateral leg pain
• lower limb weakness

Question 2

Cervical/Thoracic Red flags

Answer 2

Bilateral paraesthesia

Gait disturbance / lower limb weakness

Clumsiness

5 Ds / 3Ns

Dizziness

Drop attacks

Diplopia / Double vision

Dysphagia

Dysphasia

Nausea

(facial) Numbness

Nystagmus

Question 3

Manual therapy contraindications

Answer 3

Joint instability (acute or unstable fracture, infection)

Local cancer

Open wound

Rheumatoid arthritis (cervical spine)

Cauda equina syndrome

Upper motor neurone signs / myelopathy

Vertebral arterial insufficiency

Question 4

Exercise contraindications

Answer 4

Acute severe flare of arthritic joint or infection

Myelopathy or cauda equina syndrome

Acute or unstable fracture

Systemic unwell – e.g active cancer, sepsis