Laura Finucane and Chris Mercer Q&A webinar Red Flags

Two experienced UK consultant physiotherapists explain how red flags and serious pathology should be assessed in musculoskeletal practice, especially in spinal care. They begin by outlining their backgrounds and the difficult clinical cases that shaped their focus on missed diagnoses, including soft tissue sarcoma, metastatic spinal cord compression, and cauda equina syndrome. A major theme is that red flags should never be used as a simple checklist. Instead, clinicians need to ask “the question behind the question,” exploring symptoms such as night pain, bladder or bowel changes, and sexual dysfunction in detail and in context. The discussion shows how single red flags are often nonspecific and must be interpreted alongside the full clinical picture, symptom progression, past cancer history, and repeated healthcare visits. They also cover why metastatic symptoms can wax and wane, why pain location may not match the level of pathology, and how tools such as spinal percussion may contribute to assessment. Strong emphasis is placed on communication, listening carefully to patients, reassessing over time, and using safety netting so patients understand what warning signs to watch for and when to seek urgent help.