What does a positive Bakody sign indicate?

• A. Relief of radicular symptoms with shoulder abduction suggesting nerve root compression
• B. Worsening of radicular symptoms with shoulder abduction
• C. No change with shoulder abduction
• D. Relief of neck pain with shoulder abduction indicating facet joint pain

Answer: (A)

The signal you’re looking for with the Bakody sign is relief of radicular symptoms when the arm is placed over the head. This shoulder abduction position reduces tension and traction on the exiting cervical nerve roots and can widen the neural foramen a bit, easing irritation from a compressed root. When radicular pain or paresthesias lessen in this position, it supports cervical radiculopathy due to nerve root compression rather than nonradicular neck pain. In contrast, if symptoms don’t improve, worsen, or are purely neck or facet-related pain, the sign is not supportive of nerve-root compression.