Shoulder Competency

Question 1

What level of the spinal cord is the inferior border of the scapula at?

Answer 1

T7

Question 2

What is the normal ROM for abduction of the shoulder joint?

Answer 2

180

Question 3

What is a full can test?

Answer 3

Same as empty can except arms are supinated -> pts arms strait in front at 90 degrees and supinated, push down on arms

Question 4

What is normal ROM for flexion and extension of the shoulder joint?

Answer 4

Flexion = 180
Extension = 60

Question 5

What is indicative of a positive cross arm test and what does this mean?

Answer 5

+ test = pain

• Indicates AC joint probblem

Question 6

What is indicative of a positive neer impingement test and what does this mean?

Answer 6

Pain

• indicates subacromial bursa or rotator cuff impingement

Question 7

What is the Apley’s scratch test?

Answer 7

One arm reaches up and behind back with palm facing down and the other arm reaches behind back and up, palm facing upward; then switch arms

Make note of how far the pt can reach

Question 8

What is a Yergason’s test?

Answer 8

Seated, arm by side flex to 90 at elbox, grasp pt’s wrist and have them supinate and externally rotate against your resistance

Question 9

What is the movement used for horizontal flexion and exxtension of the sternoclavicular joint?

Answer 9

Flexion = reach to ceiling
Extension = scapula into table

Question 10

What is indicative of a positive Yergason’s test and what does this mean?

Answer 10

+ test = pain or tendon comes out of groove

• Indicates unstable bicipital tendon/subluxation bicipital tendonitis

Question 11

What is the movement used to asses retraction and protraction of the scapula?

Answer 11

Retraction = attention position (pushing shoulders back)
Protraction = reaching forward (rounding back)

Question 12

What is the normal ROM for axial rotation?

Answer 12

10 degrees

Question 13

What is a sulcus sign test?

Answer 13

Seated, arms relaxed, pull straight down on the arm

Question 14

What is a cross arm test?

Answer 14

Passively adduct pt’s arm across their chest and rest pt’s hand on their opposite shoulder

Question 15

What is indicative of a positive speed’s test and what does this mean?

Answer 15

+ test = pain in bicipital groove

• indicative of bicipital tendonitis of long head biceps

Question 16

What is indicative of a positive hawkin’s test and what does this mean?

Answer 16

+ test = pain

• Subacromial bursa or rotator cuff

Question 17

What level of the spinal cord is the spine of the scapula at?

Answer 17

T3

Question 18

What is an empty can test?

Answer 18

Seated, pt extends arms at 90 depress and pronates arm, push down on the pronated and extended arms

Question 19

What is a drop arm test?

Answer 19

Seated, pt extends arms to side at 90 and slowly lowers them, you can tap on their arms as well

Question 20

What are the motions of the clavical in abduction and adduction os the sternoclavicular joint?

Answer 20

Abduction = distal end of clavical moves superiorly 
Adduction = distal end of clavical moves inferiorly

Question 21

What is a speed’s test?

Answer 21

Flex arm at shoulder to 90, palm up, stabilize shoulder, push down on arm while pt tries to flex arm further

Question 22

What makes up the shoulder girdle?

Answer 22

Sternoclavicular joint (SC joint)
Acromioclavicular joint (AC joint)
Glenohumeral
Scapula

Question 23

What is normal range of motion for internal and external rotation of the shoulder joint?

Answer 23

90 degress for both

Question 24

What is a hawkin’s test?

Answer 24

Flex shoulder and elbow at 90, force shoulder into internal rotation

Question 25

What motions are abduction and adduction of the sternoclavicular joint?

Answer 25

Abduction = shrug up
Adduction = relax to neutral

Question 26

What is indicative of a positive drop arm test and what does this mean?

Answer 26

+ test = arm drops

• Indicative of full thickness tear of supraspinous

Question 27

What is the position of the patient when evaluating the sternoclavicular joint?

Answer 27

Supine

Question 28

What is indicative of a positive sulcus sign test and what does ths tell you?

Answer 28

+ test = indention appears beneath the acromion process

• Indicates glenohumeral instability

Question 29

What is indicative of a positive empty can test and what does this tell you?

Answer 29

+ test = pain or weakness

• Tells you there is a rotator cuff issue, specifically of the supraspinous

Question 30

What is a lift off test?

Answer 30

Pt places back of hand on thei lower back and tries to push palm out against your resistance

Question 31

What is indicative of a positive full can test and what does this mean?

Answer 31

+ test = pain/weakness

• Indicative of rotator cuff issue

Question 32

What is a neer impingement test?

Answer 32

Hold shoulder, grapp arm and pronate entire arm then flex shoulder up to full extension at 180

• Completely passive

Question 33

What is the normal ROM for horizontal abduction and adduction for the shoulder joint?

Answer 33

Adduction = 130-140 or 40-50
Abduction = 130-145 or 40-55

Question 34

What is indicative of a positive lift off test and what does this mean?

Answer 34

+ test = weakness

• Indicates subscapularis weakness

Question 35

What are the motions for horizontal flexion and extension of the sternoclavicular joint?

Answer 35

Horizontal flexion = reach ceiling (when supine)

Horizontal extension = Scapula into table (when supine)