Ortho Tests Flashcards
A/C Shear
Assesses the integrity of the acromioclavicular joint.
- Client is seated
- Stand behind client
- Place cupped hands over client’s shoulder, the fingers interlaced, with one palm on the clavicle and the other on the spine of the scapula.
- Slowly squeeze heels of hand together.
A positive test – pain or abnormal movement > AC joint pathology, AC ligament sprain
Adson’s Maneuver
Assesses for TOS caused by the anterior scalene muscle.
- Client is seated
- Stand behind client
- Locate radial pulse
- Client rotates head to face the test shoulder
- Client extends head while the examiner laterally rotates and extends the client’s shoulder.
- Client takes a deep breath and holds it for 10-15 seconds
A positive test – decrease/loss of pulse AND recreation of symptoms > TOS caused by compression of the anterior scalene
Apley Scratch
Assesses combination movements at the shoulder.
- Stand behind the client
- Instruct client to reach behind the head to touch as far down the spine as possible. Assesses external rotation, flexion, and abduction of one GH joint.
- Instruct client to reach up, at the same time, behind the back with the other hand, touching as far up the spine as possible. Assesses internal rotation, extension, and adduction of other GH joint.
- Note location of fingers according to thoracic vertebra.
- Perform on other side.
- Compare ranges
Note: there is often less flexibility on the dominant arm
A positive test – pain and inability to perform motion > limited range of motion, possibly indicating frozen shoulder
Yergason’s Test
Assesses the integrity of the transverse humeral ligament in the bicipital groove or the presence of biceps tendinitis, or both.
- Client is seated
- Client flexes elbow of the affected arm to 90 degrees and pronates the forearm with elbow stabilized against client’s thorax
- Palpate the bicipital groove during test
- Apply resistance to supination, while the client actively supinates the forearm and laterally rotates the humerus
A positive test – biceps tendon popping out of bicipital groove > torn transverse humeral ligament
Tenderness in the bicipital groove alone > biceps tendinosis or paratenonitis
Drop Arm
Assesses for a tear in the rotator cuff muscles.
- Passively abduct the client’s arm to 90 degrees.
- Ask the client to slowly lower the arm to the side in the same arc of movement.
A positive test – if the client can’t return the arm to their side slowly or has severe pain when attempting to do so > rotator cuff tear
EAST test (Roos)
Assesses for TOS.
- Client is seated
- Client abducts arm to 90 degrees, laterally rotates shoulder, and flexes the elbow to 90 degrees so the elbows are slightly behind the frontal plane
- Client opens and closes hands slowly for 3 minutes
A positive test – unable to keep arms in starting position for 3 minutes or ischemic pain, heaviness or profound weakness of the arm, numbness and tingling of hand > TOS
NOTE: minor fatigue and distress are considered negative tests
Speed’s (Bicep) Test
Assesses for bicep tendonitis.
- Client is seated
- Have client flex arm to 60-70 degrees with elbow fully extended and forearm supinated.
- Resist flexion of the GH joint
A positive test – pain at the bicipital groove on resistance > biceps tendinosis or paratenonitis
Supraspinatus strength test “empty
& full” can
Assesses for supraspinatus tendinitis, strain or weakness.
Empty:
* Client is seated or standing
* Instruct client to abduct arm to 90 degrees with neutral rotation
* Examiner provides resistance to abduction – stop resistance
* Client medially rotates shoulder and angles forward 30 degrees, so thumbs point toward floor
* Examiner provides resistance to abduction again
Full: repeat test with thumb up instead of down
A positive test – pain or weakness > tear of supraspinatus tendon or muscles, supraspinatus tendinitis
Finkelstein’s
Assesses for de Quervain’s or Hoffman’s tenosynovitis (abductor pollicis longus or extensor pollicis brevis).
- Client is seated
- Have client make fist with hand, with thumb inside fingers
- Examiner stabilizes forearm and passively ulnar deviates the wrist
A positive test – pain reproduced over the abductor pollicis longus or extensor pollicis brevis tendons > de Quervain’s or Hoffman’s tenosynovitis (abductor pollicis longus or extensor pollicis brevis)
Phalen’s (Wrist Flexion)
Test and Reverse Phalen’s
Assesses for carpal tunnel syndrome/compression of the median nerve.
Phalen’s:
* Client is seated
* Instruct client to put the backs of the hands together. The client’s wrists are flexed, the elbows are held horizontally, and the shoulders are not elevated.
* Instruct client to strongly compress backs of hands together for one minute.
Reverse Phalen’s: perform with hands in prayer position
A positive test – tingling, numbness or pain in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and lateral half of the ring finger > carpel tunnel syndrome/median nerve compression
Apley’s Test
Assesses for meniscus injury or ligament sprain.
- Patient lies prone with knee flexed 90 degrees
- Compression test – examiner presses down through tib/fib and then medially and laterally rotates tibia while maintaining compression
- Distraction test – examiner anchors patient’s thigh to table with knee. Examiner lifts tib/fib and then medially and laterally rotates maintain distraction
A positive test:
* if rotation + distraction is more painful or shows increased rotation > ligament sprain
* if rotation + compression is more painful or shows decreased rotation > meniscus injury
Tinel’s (wrist)
Assesses for CTS.
- Tap over carpal tunnel with finger or hammer
A positive test – tingling or paresthesia into thumb, index, and middle finger of palmer surface or tips of fingers of dorsal surface > carpel tunnel syndrome
Drawer Sign (knee)
Assesses for cruciate ligament sprain or tear.
Anterior drawer – anterior cruciate ligament
* Client supine with hips at 45 degrees, knees flexed to 90 degrees and feet on table
* Examiner medially rotates tibia slightly and sits on patient’s foots.
* Examiner draws tibia forward
Positive test – pain and/or laxity > anterior cruciate ligament sprain or tear
Posterior drawer – posterior cruciate ligament
* Client supine with hips at 45 degrees, knees flexed to 90 degrees and feet on table
* Examiner medially rotates tibia slightly and sits on patient’s foots.
* Examiner pushes tibia backward
Positive test – pain and/or laxity > posterior cruciate ligament sprain or tear
Lachman Test
Assesses for sprain/instability to anterior cruciate ligament.
- Patient lies supine with involved leg beside examiner
- Examiner holds patient’s knee between full extension and 30 degrees of flexion
- Stabilize femur with one hand, draw tibia anteriorly with other
Positive test – mushy/soft end feel when tibia is moved forward on the femur, increased movement > sprain/instability to anterior cruciate ligament
McMurray
Assesses for torn meniscus.
- Client is supine with knee completely flexed (heel to butt)
- Examiner medially rotates tibia then extends knee (keeping medial rotation throughout) – tests lateral meniscus
- Examiner laterally rotates tibia then extends knee (keeping lateral rotation throughout) – tests medial meniscus
A positive test – pain and/or snap or click > medial rotation and extension – torn lateral meniscus; lateral rotation and extension – torn medial meniscus