Vertebral Artery Test

Original Editor - Rachael Lowe

Top Contributors - Francky Petit, Rachael Lowe, Kim Jackson, Nick Libotton and Evan Thomas


The vertebral artery test is used in physiotherapy to test the vertebral artery blood flow, searching for symptoms of vertebral artery insufficiency and disease[1][2][3].

The test manoeuvre causes a reduction of the lumen at the third division of the vertebral artery, resulting in decreased blood flow of the intracranial VA of the contralateral side[2][3][4]. It causes an ischemia due to blood loss in the pons and the medulla oblongata[1][3][5] of the brain. This results in dizziness, nausea, syncope, dysarthria, dysphagia, and disturbances of the hearing or vision, paresis or paralysis of patients with VBI[4].

Clinically Relevant Anatomy

532px-Vertebral artery 3D AP.jpg
The vertebral artery is a major artery in the neck[6]. It branches from the subclavian artery, where it arises from the posterosuperior portion of the subclavian artery. It ascends thought the foramina of the transverse processes of the sixth cervical vertebrae. Then, it winds behind the superior articular process of the atlas. It enters the cranium through the foramen magnum where it unites with the opposite vertebral artery to form the basilar artery (at the lower border of the pons)[5].

The vertebral artery can be divided into four divisions: The first division runs posterocranial between the longus colli and the m. scalenus anterior.[5] The first division is also called the ‘pre-foraminal division’.[6] The second division runs cranial through the foramina in the cervical transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae C2.[5] The second division is also called the foraminal division[6]. The third division is defined as the part that rises from C2. It rises from the latter foramen on the medial side of the rectus capitis lateralis, and curves behind the superior articular process of the atlas. Then, it lies in the groove on the upper surface of the posterior arch of the atlas, and enters the vertebral canal by passing beneath the posterior atlantooccipital membrane[5]. The fourth part pierces the dura mater and inclines medial to the front of the medulla oblongata.[5]


The vertebral artery test is used to test the vertebral artery blood flow, searching for symptoms of vertebral artery insufficiency[1][2][3].

A reduction of blood flow may result in a transient ischiamic attack (TIA), a critical sign of impending stroke. It could mean that, if the disease isn’t quickly diagnosed there is a risk of missing the opportunity to prevent permanent disability or even death[7][8] or if the cervical spine is placed in a compromising position their is a risk of causing permanent disability or even death.

According to Johnston et al[9] the 90-day risk of stroke after a transient ischaemic attack has been estimated to approximately 10%. 50% of these strokes occur within the first two days after a TIA. Therefore, it is important to send a person with a positive test score to the hospital, where they can be examined further. TIA is often misdiagnosed as migraine, seizure, peripheral neuropathy or anxiety[8].


To test the blood flow in the vertebral artery (VA), one should put the patient on his back and perform an passive extension, followed by a passive rotation of the neck[1][2][3]. The rotation should be performed in both directions[2].

Patient rotates head opposite to tested side maximally and holds position for 10 seconds. Patient returns to neutral for 10 seconds. Patient extends head for 10 seconds. Patient returns to neutral for 10 seconds. Patient extends and rotates head (again opposite tested side) maximally for 10 seconds. Positive symptoms include (The 5 D’s) dizziness, diplopia, dysarthria, dysphagia, drop attacks, nausea and vomiting, sensory changes, nystagmus, etc.

Below is an alternate vertebral artery test, that may be used in certain settings. For example, in the assessment of an individual with suspected BPPV.


The test is commonly used for over the past 30 years[2]. The reduction of the lumen has been reported by many authors, but a lot of these studies are not sufficient enough because of lack of good samples of healthy people and VBI patients over a wide range of age.

There are also a lot of inconsistencies in the today’s literature. The review of Mitchell et al[1] found that, from the twenty studies it reviewed, four studies measured the blood flow in the transverse part of the VA (first division), eleven in the second division, none in the third division and five in the fourth division. In 7 of the 20 studies, there was not found any loss of blood flow in the VAI. Because of the inconsistency in the literature, there will be false positive/negative blood flow results in cervical spine rotation. Thus, the controversial findings in today’s literature cannot be used to guide evidence-based practice except to support the need for educated caution and authority in the pre-treatment screening and treatment of the patients.

Côté et al[10] says that the positive predictive value of this test (the proportion of subjects with a positive test who are correctly diagnosed) is 0%, and the negative predictive value of this test ranged from 63%-97%. The test was found not valid enough to detect a reduced blood flow in the VA. Therefore, the value of this test is questionable[1][3].

Clinical Importance

Rivett et al[11] suggest that physiotherapists should be aware of the following points in relation to the use of provocative testing for VBI:  

  1. The tests themselves are provocative and therefore hold some inherent risk. However, if appropriately selected and performed with care (including only to the initial point of provocation of symptoms), any potential risk to the patient will be minimised. The provocation of symptoms or signs during testing should alert the physiotherapist to the need for particular care in the selection of examination and treatment procedures.  
  2. The recommended tests are the most valid procedures for determining the presence of VBI and the adequacy of the collateral circulation identified in the literature to date. Although the tests have shown mixed results in relation to changes in vertebrobasilar arterial blood flow in experimental studies it appears that end-range rotation is the most sensitive cervical position. Recent research has also identified blood flow changes in the simulated manipulation position1 .  
  3. There is no simple clinical method for testing the intrinsic state of the vertebral artery and physiotherapists should be cognisant of this when examining or treating the cervical spine. The recommended tests will not identify all patients at risk of suffering an adverse event following cervical manipulation or mobilisation.  

If a patient tests positive on the Vertebral Artery Test, they may have Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency (VBI), but if they test negative on it, you CANNOT rule out Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency.


Current Best Evidence: VBI and Cervical Manipulation

This presentation, created by Kahn Nirschi as part of the Evidence In Motion OMPT Fellowship, discusses the current best evidence for vertebral cervical insufficiency and cervical manipulation.

View the presentation


  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jeanette Mitchell; Doppler insonation of vertebral artery blood flow changes associated with cervical spine rotation: Implications for manual therapists; Physiotherapy Theory and Practice; 2007; 23(6):303-313
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 R. Grant; Vertebral Artery Testing – the Australian Association protocol after 6 years; Manual Therapy; 1996; 1; 149-153
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Jeanette A. Mitchell; Changes in vertebral artery flow following normal rotation of the cervical spine; Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics; 347-351, 2002
  4. 4.0 4.1 Jeanette A. Mitchell; Is cervical spine rotation, as used in the standard vertebrobasilar insufficiency test, associated with a measureable change in intracranial vertebral artery blood flow?; Manual Therapy; 2004; 9 ; 220–227
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2
  7. Albers GW, Caplan LR, Easton JD, Fayad PB, Mohr JP, Saver JL, et al.; Transient ischemic attack—proposal for a new definition.; N Engl J Med. 2002;347:1713–6.[A2]
  8. 8.0 8.1 Hiroaki Naritomi, MD; Fumihiko Sakai, MD; John Stirling Meyer, MD; fckLRPathogenesis of Transient Ischemic Attacks Within the Vertebrobasilar Arterial System; Arch Neurol. 1979;36(3):121-128.[B]
  9. Johnston CS, Gress DR, Browner WS, Sidney S. Short-term prognosis after emergency department diagnosis of TIA. JAMA. 2000;284:2901–6.[B]
  10. Cote P, Kreitz BG, Cassidy JD, Thiel H. The validity of the extension-rotation test as a clinical screening procedure before neck manipulation: a secondary analysis. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 1996;19(3):159-64.
  11. Rivett D, Shirley D, Magarey M, Refshauge K. Clinical guidelines for assessing vertebrobasilar insufficiency in the management of cervical spine disorders. Australian physiotherapy association. 2006.