Special Tests (Objective Exam) Flashcards
Crossover Impingement Test
- Passive test
- Patient is standing; Flex the shoulder to 90deg, & passively bring the testing arm to the opposite shoulder –> while supporting on patients back, apply pressure into horizontal adduction
- Positive test for impingement =
- anterior pain: subscapularis, supraspinatus, long head of biceps
- posterior pain: infraspinatus, teres minor, posterior capsule
- superior pain: AC joint
Hawkins-Kennedy Test
- Passive test
- Flex the shoulder to 90deg w/ elbow at 90deg, slowly apply pressure into IR
- Positive test for impingement of supraspinatus = painful (reproduction of symptoms)
Neer’s Test
- Passive test
- Patient is sitting, clinician stands behind & while stabilizing the scapula passively elevate the arm w/ arm neutral or supinated; to make it impinged more elevate with thumb down
- Positive test for impingement of supraspinatus = painful
Speed’s Test
- Active test
- Palpate the biceps tendon, flex the arm to 90deg & supinate (ER) –> apply pressure down on distal forearm
- Positive test for biceps tendonitis = painful & weak
Supraspinatus tendonitis test
“empty can test”
- Active test
- Elevate arm to 90deg in scapular plane w/ thumb down, ask patient to hold arms and apply force down on distal forearm
- Positive test for tendonitis or partial tear = painful & weakness
Drop Arm Test
- Active test
- Passively elevate the patient’s arm into 90deg elevation w/ neutral rotation (palm down) –> ask patient to hold position & add minimal resistance
- Positive test for complete supraspinatus tear = arm drops or severely compensates by leaning or using traps (no pressure from supraspinatus to hold the arm up even though the delt is the primary muscle acting in that position)
O’Brien’s Test
- Active test
- Flex arm to 90deg, bring into 10deg of horizontal adduction & IR (thumb down) –> ask patient to hold position and apply pressure on distal forearm down
- IF this is painful then supinate the arm (IR) and perform the same test… if this alleviates the pain then the test is confirmed
- Positive test for SLAP tear or AC dysfunction = pain in ER position & alleviated in IR position
*reason is b/c when ER’d the biceps tendon & capsule are on stretch
GH Load & Shift
GH anterior & posterior instability tests
- Passive test
- Patient is sitting relaxed –> stabilize the scapula and push on ant/post of humeral head OR grip as proximal to head on shaft & move forward/backward
- Grade I = 1.5cm
* testing for ant/post laxity
GH Inferior Instability Tests
- Passive test
- Patient is sitting –> grip humerus more distally (can use elbow crease) & pull the humerus down
- Grade I = 1.0cm
Grade II = 1-2cm
Grade III - >2cm
Clunk Test
- Passive test
- Patient is supine –> arm overhead in full abduction –> clincian put one hand under posterior aspect of humeral head & simultaneously ER the arm & apply pressure/compression straight down
- Positive test for labrum tear = pain, clunk or grinding
Apprehension/Relocation Test
- Passive test
- Patient is supine –> Abduct the arm to 90deg, rest on your thigh & slowly ER; IF the patient feels apprehension or makes a face then apply a posterior glide pressure
- Positive test for anterior GH instability Or labral tear(usually bankarts lesion) = pain or apprehension
- Relocation test positive if pain or apprehension is relieved when posterior force is applied to GH & can tolerate maximal ER
Lateral Collateral Stress Test
–> for lateral (radial) collateral ligament laxity
- Patient is seated –> forearm supinated & 5-30deg of elbow flexion
- Apply a varus force to the elbow joint
- Positive test = abnormal gapping; pain
Medial Collateral Stress Test
–> for medial (ulnar) collateral ligament laxity
- Patient is seated –> forearm supinated & in 20-30deg elbow flexion
- Apply a valgus force to the elbow joint
- Positive test = abnormal gapping; pain
ECRB Test
–> muscle resisted test for lateral epicondylitis
- patient flex the elbow to 80deg and pronate forearm
- Apply pressure down on middle finger
- Positive test = pain at lateral epicondyle
Cozen’s Test
–> muscle resisted test for lateral epicondylitis
- Patient should make a fist, arm pronated, & elbow flexed
- Ask patient to extend their wrist & apply pressure into flexion
- Positive test = pain at lateral epicondyle or weakness
Mill’s test
–> passive stretch test for lateral epicondylitis
- palpate the lateral epicondyle
- passively pronate the forearm w/ the wrist flexed and bring into elbow extension
- Positive test = pain at lateral epicondyle
Medial Epicondylitis Test’s
–> passive stretch test AND muscle resisted test
- Palpate medial epicondyle
- Passively supinate the arm w/ the wrist extended & bring the elbow into extension
- ask patient to flex the wrist and resist
- Positive test = pain at medial epicondyle
Tinel’s Test
–> ulnar nerve integrity test
- Patient relaxed w/ neutral rotation & slight elbow flexion
- Tap ulnar nerve in the ulnar groove between the olcranon & medial epicondyle
- Positive test = tingling, reproduction of symptoms
Pronator Teres Syndrome Test
–> median nerve integrity test –>pronator teres syndrome
- Stabilize elbow on table, grab ahold of patients hand like you are shaking hands
- Ask patient to turn forearm into pronation & resist
- Positive test = tingling, burning sensation
Allen Test
–> for Reynauds Sydrome; poor circulation of ulnar & radial arteries
- Stabilize elbow on table and put hand straight up
- PT compresses both radial & ulna arteries –> pt makes fist 3-5 times –> release one side and observe pattern of vessels on palmer side
(normal filling time <5sec) - Repeat for other side
- Positive test = blenching remains after pressure is released from the artery
Finkelstein’s Test
–> for tenosynovitis of the thumb (de Quervain’s)
- Stabilize elbow on table & ask patient to make a fist w/ thumb inside the fingers
- Passively move the patient into ulnar deviation
- Positive test = pain over the APL & EPB