Exam 3- Yellow and Reg Flags in Spinal Assessment

Yellow flags are

Risk factors for developing chronic pain

Red flags are

Prompt the clinical to conduct further diagnostic procedures

Most yellow flags pertain to

Work or psychosocial related factors

When should you assess yellow flags

Wishing the first 4-12 weeks

Yellow flag for cervical and upper quarter

Severe pain after 1 month

Things that lead to yellow flags in the cervical and upper quater

Upper extremity co-morbidity

Low job support/stress

Catastrophe in pain coping style

Number of pain treatment styles

Pas recommendations for surgery

Yellow flag for history of low back

Longer than 4 weeks of symptoms

Sciatica

Previous episodes requiring treatment

Severs pain after 3 weeks

Delaying treatment at least 7 days

Widespread pain

Examination yellow flags for low back

Lack of centralization with repetitive ROM

Positive straight leg raise test, neurological signs and orthopedic test

Psychosocial yellow flags for low back

3 or more Waddell signs

Fear avoidance beliefs

Anxiety, depression, distress

Low expectation of recovery

Blaming others

Negative work or family situation

Work related low back yellow flags

Compensation

Litigation (suing from their injury)

Physical demanding job

Job dissatisfaction

Prior disability in last 12 moths

Workplace unable to provide light duty work

Low supervisor support

Function yellow flags for low back

Light work intolerance

Sleep disruption

20/100 or higher Oswestry disability score

Red flags require

Immediate follow up

When should you assess red flasg

First

Red flags

Fracture/dislocation

-from trauma or osteoporosis

Neoplasm

Intrapsinal/intracranial considerations (stroke, VBI, meningitis)

Infection

Radiculopathy

<18 without precipitating event

>45 without precipitating event

Night pain