BBC: UE Tests Flashcards
Apley’s Scratch Test
Evaluates: ROM
Patient reaches behind head to scratch back; this evaluates abduction and ER
Patient reaches across chest to scratch the other shoulder and/or reaches around the back at the waist and scratches back; this evaluates IR and addution
Adson’s Test
Evaluates: thoracic outlet syndrome (its effect on the subclavian artery)
Patient extends elbow and arm, slightly abducts arm, and with a deep inhalation, turns head in ipsilateral direction
+ test = very decreased or absent radial pulse
Roos Test
Evaluates: thoracic outlet syndrome
Patient abducts both arms to 90 degrees, ER the arms, then flexes the elbows to 90 degrees. The patient repetitively forms a fist and releases it while maintaining the entire arm/forearm position for 3 min
+ test = sensation of heaviness or weakness in an arm, or paresthesias of the hand
Drop Arm Test
Evaluates: rotator cuff tear
Patient abducts arm to 90 degrees, then slowly and steadily lowers the arm to the side
+ test = inability to smoothly lower arm and/or dropping uncontrollably
Speed’s Test
Evaluates: biceps tendon
Patient extends the elbow and supinates the forearm while flexing the arm at the shoulder, while the latter is being resisted by the physician
+ test = tenderness in the bicipital groove
Yergason’s Test
Evaulates: stability of biceps tendon in bicipital groove
Patient flexes elbow to 90 degrees; the clinician holds the patient’s wrist with one hand and the patient’s elbow with the other; the clinician then resists the patient’s flexive forces while inducing ER of the forearm that the patient also resists
+ test = pain in the biceps tendon as it pops out of the bicipital groove
Tinel’s Test
Evaluates: carpal tunnel syndrome
Clinician taps over the volar aspect of the patient’s transverse carpal ligament
+ test = paresthesias of the thumb & first 2.5 fingers
Phalen’s Test
Evaluates: carpal tunnel syndrome
Patient’s wrist is passively but maximally flexed by the clinician, and is held in this position for 1 min
+ test = paresthesias of the thumb & first 2.5 fingers
Prayer Test
(Reverse Phalen’s Test)
Evaluates: carpal tunnel syndrome
Patient grasps the clinician’s hand, palm to palm, and the patient’s hand is passively moved into full extension while the clinician places direct pressure onto the carpal tunnel for 1 min
+ test = paresthesias of the thumb & first 2.5 fingers
Allen’s Test
Evaluates: radial artery & ulnary artery patency (blood supply to the hand)
Patient opens and closes hand several times then makes a tight fist and holds that position. The clinician occludes the ulnar and radial arteries; the patient then relaxes the hand. The clinician then releases one of the arteries and watches for flushing
The test is failed if the hand does NOT flush or if it flushes slowly, indicating that the released artery is not delivering blood adequately
Repeat, testing the other artery
Finkelstein’s Test
Evaluates: tenosynovitis of the APL & EPB
Patient makes a tight fist with the thumb tucked into the fist. The clinician induces adduction of the wrist
+ test = pain over the tendons at the wrist
(DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis)
