musculoskeletal Flashcards
hawkins test
shoulder
stand with shoulder abducted 90 degrees while internally rotating the forearm. pain with overstretching of the ligaments is positive
may indicate subacromial impingement or rotator cuff tendonitis
empty can test
shoulder
pt standing or sitting, arms out & thumbs down. apply pressure to forearms. pain and apprehension are positive
may indicate weakness of supraspinatus muscles or rotator cuff impingement
apprehension test
shoulder
supine and relaxed, place the knee in full extension. apply a lateral force to the medial border of the patella. pain or guarding is positive and
may indicate anterior instability
neer’s impingement test
shoulder
hold scapula down, pronate and flex forearm. pain and apprehension are positive
may indicate impingement or rotator cuff tendonitits
drop arm test
shoulder
pt holds arm up to the side, then ask to slowly lower to the side OR tap light to see if it falls
may indicate rotator cuff tear
snuffbox test
wrist
tenderness in anatomical snuffbox
may indicate scaphoid fracture
phalen’s test
wrist
flex wrist facing downward, press dorsal hands together and apply resistance for 1 minute. numbness or tingling is positive
may indicate carpal tunnel
drawer test
knee or ankle
patient sits with knee at 90 degrees, stabilize leg then pull and push and watch for anterior/lateral translation
may indicate torn ACL or poor ankle stability
lachman test
knee
place hand over distal thigh and proximal tibia. apply force on tibia and observe for tibial translation
may indicate LIGAMENT disruption (torn ACL)
mcmurray’s test
knee
with knee flexed, externally rotate the tibia and observe pain or clicking
may indicate MENISCUS tear
valgus stress test
knee
with elbow flexed, apply force to lateral elbow. pain or excess motion compared to the contralateral side is positive and may indicate ligament injury
assesses ligaments
most common ankle injury
inversion
varus stress test
knee
with wrist stabilized, apply force to the medial elbow while it is flexed 20-30 degrees. pain or excess motion compared to the contralateral side is positive and
may indicate collateral ligament instability
spine red flags
neck -
recent trauma
nuchal rigidity/fever
pain w weakness of extremities
back-
unexplained wt loss
pain worse at rest
associated neurologic deficits
loss of bowel/bladder function
pain radiation to abd
thompson test
ankle
with patient supine, have them bring one knee to the chest. passive flexion in the contralateral leg is a positive test
may indicate achilles tendon tear
