MSK FF Special test Flashcards
Yergarsons Test
PURPOSE- Integrity of transverse ligament
RESULT- Tendon of long head of biceps will pop out of the
groove. Tenderness in the bicipital groove alone without the
dislocation may indicate bicipital paratenonitis/tendinosis
Speed Test
PURPOSE- Identify bicipital tendinosis/ tendinopathy
RESULT- Pain in long head of biceps tendon/ increased
tenderness in the bicipital groove
NEERS Impingement test
PURPOSE- For impingement of supraspinatus and
biceps tendon
RESULT- Reproduces symptoms of pain in the shoulder
region
Empty Can/ Jobe Test
PURPOSE- Identify tear/ impingement of supraspinatus
tendon or suprascapular nerve neuropathy
RESULT- Reproduces pain in supraspinatus tendon
or weakness in empty can position
Drop Arm Test or Codmands test
PURPOSE- Also known as Codman’s test. Identify tear/
full rupture of rotator cuff
RESULT- A positive test is indicated if the patient
is unable to return the arm to the side slowly or
has severe pain when attempting to do so
Posterior IR Impengement Test
PURPOSE- To identify impingement between rotator
cuff and greater tuberosity or posterior glenoid and labrum
RESULT- Reproduction of pain in posterior shoulder
during test
Hawkins-Kennedy Impengement test/ Yocum
PURPOSE: Identify sub-acromial impingement
RESULT: Pain indicates a positive test for supraspinatus paratenonitis/tendinosis or
secondary impingement
Horn Blowers Sign or Patte Test
PURPOSE: To detect Rotator cuff tears involving the teres minor
RESULT: . If the patient is unable to externally rotate the shoulder in this position, the
horn-blower’s sign is said to be present
Active Compression Test of O’Brien
PURPOSE: To detect SLAP (Type II) or superior labral lesions
RESULT: If pain on the joint line or painful clicking is produced inside the shoulder
(not over the acromioclavicular joint) in the first part of the test and eliminated or
decreased in the second part, the test is
considered positive for labral abnormalities.
Biceps Load Test
PURPOSE: To check the integrity of the superior labrum.
RESULT: If apprehension decreases or the patient
feels more comfortable, the test is negative for a
SLAP lesion. If the apprehension remains the same
or the shoulder becomes more painful, the test is
considered positive for SLAP lesions
Lateral Rotation LAG Sign or Spring back test
PURPOSE: To test the teres minor and infraspinatus. Also known as Infraspinatus
“Spring Back” Test.
RESULT: For a positive test, the patient cannot hold the position and the hand
springs back anteriorly toward midline, indicating infraspinatus and teres minor
cannot hold the position due to weakness or
pain
Abdominal Compression Test or Belly press or Napoleon Test
PURPOSE: Checks the subscapularis muscle.
RESULT: If the patient is unable to maintain the pressure on
the examiner’s hand while moving the elbow forward, or
posteriorly flexes the wrist or extends the shoulder, the test
is positive for a tear of the subscapularis muscle
Lift Off Sign or Gerbers test
PURPOSE- To detect a lesion of the subscapularis muscle
RESULT- An inability to do so indicates a lesion of the subscapularis muscle.
Jerk test
PURPOSE: To test recurrent posterior instability
RESULT: A positive test is the production of a sudden jerk or clunk as the humeral
head slides off (subluxes) the back of the glenoid. When
the arm is returned to the original 90° abduction position,
a second jerk may be felt as the head reduces.
Sulcus Sign
PURPOSE: To test for inferior shoulder instability
RESULT: The presence of a sulcus sign may indicate inferior instability or
glenohumeral laxity but should only be considered positive for instability if the patient
is symptomatic
Pectoralis Major Contrature Test
PURPOSE: To identify tightness of pectoralis major muscle
RESULT: A positive test occurs if the elbows do not reach the table and indicates a
tight pectoralis major muscle.
Halstead Maneuver
PURPOSE: Identify pathology of structures that pass through thoracic inlet
RESULT: Absence or disappearance of a pulse indicates
a positive test for thoracic outlet syndrome.
(looking away)
Clunk Test
PURPOSE- Identifies glenoid labrum tear
RESULT- Audible clunk is heard while performing test
Anterior Apprehension/ Crank Test
PURPOSE- Identify past anterior dislocation of shoulder
RESULT- Patient does not allow or does not like to move shoulder into that direction
to simulate anterior dislocation
Posterior Apprehension sign
PURPOSE- To identify past history of posterior
shoulder dislocation
RESULT- RESULT- Patient does not allow or does not
like to move shoulder into that direction to simulate
posterior dislocation
Acromioclavicular Shear Test
PURPOSE- Identifies dysfunction of AC joint
such as arthritis, separation
RESULT- Reproduces pain in AC joint
Adson’s Test
PURPOSE- Identify pathology of structures that
pass through thoracic inlet
RESULT- A disappearance of the pulse
indicates a positive test.
(look toward)
Costoclavicular Syndrom or Military Brace Test
PURPOSE- Identify pathology of structures that
pass through thoracic inlet
RESULT- A positive test is indicated by an absence
of the pulse and implies possible thoracic outlet
syndrome (costoclavicular syndrome). This test is
particularly effective in patients who complain of
symptoms while wearing a backpack or heavy coat.
Wright (Hyperabduction) Test
PURPOSE- Identify pathology of structures that
pass through thoracic inlet
RESULT- Neurological/ vascular symptoms
(disappearance of pulse) will be reproduced
Roos test or Elevated arm Stress test
PURPOSE- Identify pathology of structures that
pass through thoracic inlet
RESULT- If the patient is unable to keep the arms
in the starting position for 3 minutes or suffers
ischemic pain, heaviness or profound weakness of the
arm, or numbness and tingling of the hand during the
minutes, the test is considered positive for thoracic outlet
syndrome on the affected side.
Ligament Instability Test
Elbow
PURPOSE- To identify ligament laxity or restriction
RESULT-Primary finding is laxity but pain may be present.
Valgus test- Ulnar
Varus test- Radial
Lateral Epicondylitis Test/ Cozen Test
Elbow
PURPOSE- Identify lateral epicondylopathy
RESULT- Sudden severe pain in the area of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus is a positive sign
Mills Test
PURPOSE- Identify lateral epicondylopathy
PURPOSE- Evaluates for pain with compression of the retrodiscal tissues
DESCRIPTION- Patient siting or supine. Support/stabilize the head with one hand,
with other hand push mandible superior, causing a compressive load to TMJ
RESULT- Positive finding is pain in TMJ
RESULT- Pain over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus indicates a positive test.
Maudsleys Test
PURPOSE- Identify lateral epicondylopathy
RESULT- Positive test is indicated by pain over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus
Elbow Flexion Test
PURPOSE- Identify cubital tunnel syndrome
RESULT- Tingling or paresthesia in the ulnar nerve distribution of the forearm and
hand indicates a positive test. The test helps to determine whether a cubital tunnel
(ulnar nerve) syndrome is present.
Medial Epicondylitis Test or Golfers Elbow test
PURPOSE- Identify medial epicondylopathy (Golfer’s elbow test)
RESULT- A positive sign is indicated by pain over the medial epicondyle of the
humerus
Tinel’s Sign
PURPOSE- Identifies dysfunction of ulnar nerve at olecranon
RESULT- A positive sign is indicated by a tingling sensation in the ulnar distribution of
the forearm and hand distal to the point of compression of the nerve. The test
indicates the point of regeneration of the sensory fibers of a nerve. The most distal
point at which the patient feels the abnormal
sensation represents the limit of nerve regeneration.
Finkelstient Test
PURPOSE- Determine the presence of de Quervain disease, a paratenonitis in the
thumb
RESULT- Pain over the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons
at the wrist and is indicative of a paratenonitis of these two tendons.
Pronator Teres syndrome Test
PURPOSE- Identify median nerve entrapment within pronator teres
RESULT- Tingling or paresthesia in the median nerve distribution in the forearm
and hand indicates a positive test.
Tight Retinacular Test
PURPOSE- Identify tightness around PIP joint
DESCRIPTION- The proximal interphalangeal joint is held in a neutral position while
the distal interphalangeal joint is flexed by the examiner. If the distal interphalangeal
joint does not flex, the retinacular (collateral) ligaments or proximal interphalangeal
capsule are tight. If the proximal interphalangeal joint is flexed and the distal
interphalangeal joint flexes easily, the retinacular ligaments are tight and the capsule
is normal.
Bunnel-Litter Test or Intrinsic Plus test
PURPOSE- Identifies tightness in structures surrounding the MCP joint
RESULT- If the test is positive (which is indicated by inability to flex the proximal
interphalangeal joint), there is a tight intrinsic muscle or contracture of the joint
capsule. If the metacarpophalangeal joints are slightly flexed, the proximal
interphalangeal joint flexes fully if the intrinsic muscles are tight, but it does not flex
fully if the capsule is tight. The patient remains passive during the test. This test is
also called the intrinsic-plus test
Ligament Instability Test (finger)
PURPOSE- Identify ligament instability, medial or lateral
RESULT- The results are compared for laxity with those of the uninvolved hand,
which is tested first.
Froment’s Sign
PURPOSE- Identify ulnar nerve dysfunction
RESULT- When the examiner attempts to pull away the paper, the terminal phalanx
of the thumb flexes because of paralysis of the adductor pollicis muscle, indicating a
positive test. If, at the same time, the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb
hyperextends, the hyperextension is noted as a positive Jeanne’s sign. Both tests, if
positive, are indicative of ulnar nerve paralysis
Wartenberg Sign
PURPOSE- Identify ulnar nerve neuropathy
RESULT- Inability to squeeze the little finger to the remainder of the hand indicates a
positive test for ulnar neuropathy
Hoffman Sign
PURPOSE- Indicates upper motor neuron dysfunction
RESULT- A positive sign is noted if the interphalangeal joint of the thumb of the same
hand flexes/adducts. The fingers may also flex.
Thumb Grind Test
PURPOSE- Identify degenerative joint disease in the metacarpophalangeal or
metacarpotrapezial joint
RESULT- If pain is elicited, the test is positive and
indicative of degenerative joint disease in the
metacarpophalangeal or metacarpotrapezial joint
Murphy’s Sign
PURPOSE- Identify lunate dislocation
DESCRIPTION- The patient is asked to make a fist. If the head of the third
metacarpal is level with the second and fourth metacarpals, the sign is positive and
indicative of a lunate dislocation. Normally, the third metacarpal would project beyond
(or further distally) the second and fourth metacarpals.
Tinel’s Sign (wrist)
PURPOSE-Identify carpal tunnel compression of median nerve
RESULT- A positive test causes tingling or paresthesia into the thumb, index finger,
and middle and lateral half of the ring finger. Tinel sign at the wrist is indicative of a
carpal tunnel syndrome.
Phalen’s Test
PURPOSE- Identify carpal tunnel compression of median nerve
RESULT- Production of the patient’s symptoms is considered to be a positive test for
carpal tunnel syndrome. The test may also involve flexing the wrist 60° before
applying the pressure and whether symptoms are relieved when the examiner lets
go. The wrist flexion is felt to make the test more sensitive