{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,3]],"date-time":"2026-11-03T00:29:39Z","timestamp":1793665779474,"version":"4.5.1"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]],"date-time":"2025-07-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751414400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Cervical spine radiculopathy [CSR] is a complex condition that is challenging to diagnose. The assessment methods used by United Kingdom [UK] physiotherapists to diagnose CSR remain unclear. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was used to investigate the assessment strategies that UK Health and Care Professions Council HCPC physiotherapists use and the reasons behind this decision-making in clinical practice. Phase 1 of the mixed methods research [MMR] study was a national online survey. The 63 respondents reported that the most common assessment strategies included muscle strength [94%], light touch sensation [78%] and reflex testing [89%]. Phase 2 of the MMR study included 11 qualitative interviews with Phase 1 [survey] participants. Four themes were established: perception of role, service constraints, minimising risk, and understanding symptoms. Physiotherapists often explained decision making in practice is based upon individual and organisational barriers. The choices available to physiotherapists may be based on cost, departmental knowledge and skill or convenience. However, the best available evidence suggests that physiotherapists should continue to use a biopsychosocial approach when establishing a CSR diagnosis. Physiotherapists should continue to embrace all assessment strategies available and strive to enhance or change practice.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0325922","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]],"date-time":"2025-07-02T17:54:12Z","timestamp":1751478852000},"page":"e0325922","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["\u201cYou do it to cover your own back\u201d: The assessment of cervical spine radiculopathy among physiotherapists in the United Kingdom: A mixed methods research study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4258-8247","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Michael","family":"Mansfield","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephanie T.","family":"Jong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Toby","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0325922.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spinee.2017.08.241","article-title":"Value of physical tests in diagnosing cervical radiculopathy: a systematic review","volume":"18","author":"EJ Thoomes","year":"2018","journal-title":"Spine J"},{"issue":"18","key":"pone.0325922.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1630","DOI":"10.1212\/01.wnl.0000282763.29778.59","article-title":"Neuropathic pain: redefinition and a grading system for clinical and research purposes","volume":"70","author":"R-D Treede","year":"2008","journal-title":"Neurology"},{"key":"pone.0325922.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102596","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msksp.2022.102596","article-title":"Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy: An international e-Delphi study","volume":"61","author":"KN Lam","year":"2022","journal-title":"Musculoskelet Sci Pract"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0325922.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"555","DOI":"10.1002\/msc.1498","article-title":"Cervical spine radiculopathy epidemiology: A systematic review","volume":"18","author":"M Mansfield","year":"2020","journal-title":"Musculoskeletal Care"},{"key":"pone.0325922.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17002","DOI":"10.1038\/nrdp.2017.2","article-title":"Neuropathic pain","volume":"3","author":"L Colloca","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Rev Dis Primers"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0325922.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1097\/j.pain.0000000000000753","article-title":"Peripheral neuropathic pain: a mechanism-related organizing principle based on sensory profiles","volume":"158","author":"R Baron","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pain"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0325922.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0018018","article-title":"Sensory symptom profiles and co-morbidities in painful radiculopathy","volume":"6","author":"F Mahn","year":"2011","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0325922.ref008","article-title":"Entrapment neuropathies: a contemporary approach to pathophysiology, clinical assessment, and management","volume":"5","author":"AB Schmid","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pain Rep"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0325922.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1097\/00007632-200301010-00014","article-title":"Reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the clinical examination and patient self-report measures for cervical radiculopathy","volume":"28","author":"RS Wainner","year":"2003","journal-title":"Spine"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0325922.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spinee.2017.08.241","article-title":"Value of physical tests in diagnosing cervical radiculopathy: a systematic review","volume":"18","author":"EJ Thoomes","year":"2018","journal-title":"Spine J"},{"key":"pone.0325922.ref011","first-page":"33","article-title":"Quantitative sensory testing and association with cervical spine radiculopathy disability: systematic review","volume":"50","author":"M Mansfield","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pain and Rehabilitation: the Journal of Physiotherapy Pain Association"},{"key":"pone.0325922.ref012","first-page":"1","article-title":"Spurling\u2019s test - 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