shoulder Flashcards
examination of the shoulder - look
Asymmetry of shoulders
skin: scars, erythema, lacerations
soft tissue: loss of muscle bulk, swelling
bone: bony deformity
Deformity near the middle of the clavicle may suggest a previous clavicular fracture
Protrusion of the distal end of the clavicle may suggest AC joint subluxation
The side of the shoulder: athroscopy scars
Scapula: wasting of muscles, wasting of supra and infraspinatus appear as hollow grooves above and below the spine
examination of the shoulder - feel
Deformity, tenderness, temperature, swelling
Tenderness over acromioclavicular joint may indicate osteoarthritis
Tenderness over the greater tuberosity may indicate impingement or rotator cuff pathology
palpate longhead of biceps tendon
flexion and extension
do active movement first
180 degrees of flexion and 50 degrees of extension
impingement syndrome is typically a painful arc of abduction between 60 and 120 degrees (normal range is 180)
also assess from behind to visualise scapular movement
external rotation
with elbows bent assess
usually about 60 degrees
external rotation: most severely affected in frozen shoulder, affected most early in glenohumeral joint arthritis
internal rotation
internal rotation: how far the patient is able to reach up their back with their thumb
should be able to reach to the inferior border of the scapula
since they’re in this position, you can do the lift off test
lift off test
assesses subscapularis strength
if the patient can’t reach up their back, you can do the belly press test instead
how to test infraspinatus
(and teres minor)
external rotation against resistance
how to test supraspinatus
30 degrees of flexion and abduction
press down and compare the two shoulders
types of shoulder special tests
tests for rotator cuff strength
tests for impingement
cross arm test for AC joint arthritis
tests for instability
special tests for rotator cuff strength
sub scapularis lift off test: patient should try to lift their arm off their back against resistance, use the belly press test if the patient can’t reach behind their back
Infraaspinatus and (teres minor) external rotation against resistance
supraspinatus test: 30 degrees of flexion and abduction, compare the two shoulders, vast majority of tears occur in the supraspinatus tendon
empty can/jobe’s test
abduct to 90 degrees
thumb pointing up
push up agianst resistance
point thumb down and again push against resistance
both actions are typically painful in impingement but it is typically more painful when pushing down as internal rotation brings the greater tuberosity of the humerus under the acromion process compressing the supraspinatus tendon
hawkin’s test
abduct the shoulder and flex the elbow 90 degrees
rotate the arm downward and repeat while adducting the humerus
performing the test in varying degrees of adduction increases sensitivity
internal rotation of the shoulder exacerbates impingement pain
cross arm test
test for AC joint arthritis
forcibly adduct the arm across the chest
pain over the acromioclavicular joint is indicative of osteoarthritis
special tests for impingement
Empty can test
- flex shoulder to 90 degrees and abduct
- patient pushes up against resistance with thumbs up
- patient pushes up against resistance with thumbs down
- typically more painful wehn thumbs are pointing down as internal rotation brings the greater tuberosity of the humerous under the acromion process compressing the supraspinatus tendon
Hawkins test
- abduct the shoulder 90 degrees and flex the elbow 90 degrees
- passively rotate the patients arm while adducting the humerous
Neer’s test
- patient internally rotates arm with thumb down
- patient forward flexes internally rotated arm, test is positive if this elicits pain
tests for AC joint arthritis
cross arm test
- forward flex to 90 ddegrees and adduct across the chest
positive test is pain over the AC joint and may indicate OA
interior and posterior draw test
apply anterior and posterior traction force to the humerus to assess the laxity of the humerus
compare the the other side
sulcus test
to demonstrate inferior instability of the glenohumeral joint
downward traction force to the humerus
in a positive test, a sulus will be visible under the acromion process
apprehension test
either upight or supine
abduct the shoulder and flex the elbow to 90 degrees
externally rotate the shoulder while watching the patient’s face carefully
a positive sign is apprehension on the patients face as the shoulder is about to dislocate
this feeling may be relieved by applying pressure to the front of the humerus
special tests for shoulder instability
inferior and posterior draw test (laxity)
- stabilise the shoulder with one hand and grip the humerus with the other and apply anterior and posterior pressure
sulcus test
- apply downward force on the humerus, if positive a sulcus will appear under the acromion process
apprehension test
- abduct the shoulder and flex the elbow to 90 degrees, externally rotate the arm, a positive sign is a look of apprehension on the patient’s face
relocation test
- after the apprehension test, place direct pressure on the anterior aspect of the humeral head
tests for biceps tendon pathology
speed’s test
- forward flex the arm to 60 degrees and flex the elbow 20-30 degrees, attempt to flex the elbow against resistance
yergason’s test
- arm abducted and elbow flexed 90 degrees, have patient supinate (turn inward) against resistance