PT Pro Talk - Ep. 187 - Does Directional Preference Really Identify Discogenic Pain? with Dr. Jean-Philippe Deneuville

💡 In this episode, Dr. Jean-Philippe Deneuville discusses the key findings from his recently published research, which explores whether directional preference can truly be used to identify discogenic pain.

He shares how his study contributes to understanding directional preference diagnostic accuracy, discogenic pain subgroups, and how these insights can improve clinical reasoning, diagnosis accuracy, and treatment outcomes.

💭 “If we can identify directional preference in a patient, we have a very good probability of having discogenic pain." - Dr. Jean-Philippe Deneuville

👉🏻Dr. Jean-Philippe Deneuville is a French physiotherapist specializing in musculoskeletal disorders. He holds an International MDT Diploma, a Master’s in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy from the University of Dundee, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Bioengineering. A McKenzie Institute faculty member since 2017, he has taught over 100 courses worldwide. His research focuses on intervertebral disc disorders and spinal pain, working closely with the PRISMATICS team to develop new diagnostic and treatment technologies. He currently balances clinical practice, teaching, and research.

📚You will learn about:

Directional Preference accuracy - how it identifies discogenic low back pain.
Screening limits - why the absence of Directional Preference doesn’t rule out discogenic pain.
Directional Preference vs. Centralization Phenomenon - key similarities and subtle differences.
Discogenic pain subgroups - including Modic changes and what it means for patient care.

🔎 Jean-Philippe's resource of information:

DENEUVILLE, Jean-Philippe; LASLETT, Mark; et al. Concurrent validity of the directional preference phenomenon compared to controlled lumbar discography: A supplementary analysis of a diagnostic accuracy study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, v. 80, 2025. Available here.

📲 Jean-Philippe's contact information: