Which of the following is classically diagnostic for Cervical radiculopathy?

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Cervical radiculopathy is diagnosed most reliably by provocative testing that directly reproduces the nerve-root–related pain. Spurling's maneuver does exactly that: with the patient seated, you extend and laterally bend the neck toward the affected side and apply an axial compressive load. If this movement reproduces the patient’s radicular symptoms in the corresponding dermatomal distribution, it suggests irritation or compression of a specific cervical nerve root from foraminal encroachment or a disc herniation. The B version of this maneuver is the more provocative form and is classically described as diagnostic because it increases foraminal compression enough to elicit the radicular pain when a nerve root is involved.

The other tests aren’t considered classic diagnostic tools for cervical radiculopathy. Cyriax release is used to help differentiate radicular from nonradicular pain in some contexts but isn’t a definitive test for nerve root compression. O'Donoghue maneuvers test aspects of joint or soft-tissue injury rather than cervical nerve-root irritation. Sharp-Purser assesses upper cervical stability (transverse ligament integrity) and potential atlas–dens instability, not radiculopathy.