What is Ott Sign?
The ott sign measures the range of motion of the thoracic spine.
Procedure of Performing the Ott Sign
Step 1 – The patient is in a standing position.
Step 2 – The examiner marks the C7 spinous process and a point 30 cm inferior to it.
This distance decreases by 1-2 cm in maximum extension (leaning backward), and this distance increases by 2-4 cm in flexion, as you can see in the video and diagram below. Therefore, this happens in a normal ott sign procedure.
But when there is a problem in the spine (degenerative inflammatory process in the spine), there will be a restriction in the spinal mobility & hence restriction in the range of motion of the spinous process. In other words when there is a problem in the spine (degenerative inflammatory process in the spine), there will be a restriction in the spinal mobility & due to this reason there will restriction in the range of motion of the spinous process
Assessment
The degenerative inflammatory process in the spine restricts spinal mobility and hence the range of motion of the spinous process. In other words, if there is a degenerative inflammatory process in the spine, then there will be restriction or decrement in the spinal mobility and due to this reason there will be decrement in the range of motion of the spinous process. Therefore this indicates a positive ott sign. Let’s understand this.
What is the Normal distance? – The distance from the C7 spinous process and a point 30 cm inferior to it. So the normal distance is 30cm.
Therefore, in a normal ott sign procedure, the normal distance (30cm) decreases by 1-2 cm in maximum extension (leaning backward), and this distance increases by 2-4 cm in flexion. But now, what happens when there is a degenerative inflammatory process in the spine?
If there is a degenerative inflammatory process in the spine, there will be restriction or decrement in the spinal mobility and due to this reason there will be decrement in the range of motion of the spinous process. In other words, the patient will not be able to lean backward normally. And also, the patient will not be able to do flexion properly. Therefore, this indicates a positive ott sign.
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Sacroiliac Joint Tests
Laguerre Test or Laguerre’s Test – help in differentiating hip pain from saroiliac pain.
Mennell’s Sign / Mennell’s Test – Used to assess degenerative processes in the sacroiliac joint.
Springing Test – To detect functional impairment in the Thoracic & Lumbar spine & Sacroiliac Joint
Gaenslen’s Test – To detect any pathology or dysfunction around the sacroiliac joint.
Standing Flexion Test/ Standing Forward Flexion Test – To assess sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Cervical Tests
Cervical Flexion Compression Test – To identify if there is a Herniated disk in the Cervical spine.
Jackson Compression Test – To Detect Cervical Radiculopathy (Cervical Nerve Root Compression).
Spurling Test – For Diagnosing Cervical Radiculopathy.
Cervical Distraction Test – To detect the presence of cervical radiculopathy.
Soto Hall Test – For Detecting Problem in Patient’s Neck (Cervical Spine).
Some other Tests
Pelvic Ligament Tests – used for the assessment of the pelvic ligaments.
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Noble Compression Test/Noble Test – To assess pain coming from iliotibial band syndrome.
Neer Test – For detecting the presence of shoulder impingement syndrome.
Resources
Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal System: Examinations-Signs-Phenomena by K. Buckup