Special Tests: Test To Description Flashcards
Anterior apprehension test
Supine, arm in 90 degrees abduction. Laterally rotate patients shoulder. Positive test is facial grimace or reports of apprehension
Anterior shoulder instability
Posterior apprehension test
Posterior shoulder instability
Supine with arm in 90 degrees flexion and medial rotation. Apply posterior force through long axis of the humerus. Positive test is facial grimace/ reports of apprehension
Ludington’s test
Indicative of rupture of long head of biceps
In sitting, clasp both hands behind the head with fingers interlocked. Alternately contract and relax biceps. Positive test is absence of movement in biceps tendon
Speed’s test
Indicative of bicipital tendinitis
Sitting or standing with elbow extended and forearm supinated. One hand over bicipital grove and other on volar forearm. Resist shoulder flexion. Positive with pain or tenderness in the bicipital groove
Yergason’s test
Indicative of bicipital tendinitis
Sitting with 90 degrees of elbow flexion and forearm pronated. Humerus stabilized against trunk. Resist supination and external rotation. Palpate bicipital groove. Positive is pain or tenderness in the bicipital groove
Drop arm test
Indicative of rotator cuff tear
Sitting or standing with the arm in 90 degrees abduction. Patient asked to slowly lower arm to side. Positive is inability to slowly lower arm or presence of severe pain
Hawkins-Kennedy impingement test
Indicative of shoulder impingement involving supraspinatus tendon
Sitting or standing. Therapist flexes shoulder to 90 degrees and medically rotates arm. Positive is pain
Neer impingement test
Indicative of shoulder impingement involving supraspinatus tendon
Sitting or standing. passive flexion of the shoulder with internal rotation. Positive is pain
Supraspinatus (empty can) test
Indicative of tear of supraspinatus tendon, impingement, or supra scapular nerve involvement
Arm in 90 degrees abduction and 30 degrees horizontal adduction, thumb pointing downwards. Resist abduction. Positive is weakness or pain
Adson maneuver
Indicative of thoracic outlet
Sitting or standing. Monitor radial pulse and ask patient to rotate head to face test shoulder. Then asked to extend head while therapist laterally rotates and extends the patients shoulder. Positive is indicated an absent or diminished pulse
Allen test
Indicative of thoracic outlet syndrome
Sitting or standing with arm in 90 degrees of abduction, lateral rotation and elbow flexion. Patient rotates head away from test shoulder. Therapist monitors radial pulse. Positive with absent or diminished pulse when head rotated away
Costoclavicular syndrome test (military brace)
Indicative of thoracic outlet caused by compression of subclavian artery between first rib and clavicle
Sitting, therapist monitors radial pulse. Assist patient to assume military posture
Roos test
Indicative of thoracic outlet syndrome
Sitting or standing with arms in 90 degrees of abduction, external rotation, elbow flexion. Open and close hands for 3 minutes. Positive by inability to maintain test position, weakness of the arms, sensory loss or ischemic pain
Wright test (hyperabduction test)
Indicative of compression in costoclavicular spine (Thoracic outlet)
Sitting or standing. Therapist moves patients arm overhead in the frontal plane while monitoring radial pulse. Positive is absent or diminished radial pulse
Cozen’s test
Indicative of lateral epicondylitis,
Sitting with elbow in slight flexion. Palpate and stabilize elbow at lateral epicondyle. Resist portion, radial deviation and extension of wrist. Positive is pain and muscle weakness
Lateral epicondylitis test
Extend 3rd digit against resistance, positive is muscle weakness and pain
Medial epicondylitis test
Indicative of medial epicondylitis.
Passively supinate, extend wrist and extend elbow. Pain is positive
Mills test
Indicative of lateral epicondylitis
Passively pronate forearm, flex wrist, extend the elbow. Pain in positive
Tinel’s sign
Tap at elbow or wrist- indicative of ulnar nerve at elbow, median (carpal tunnel) at wrist
Ulnar collateral ligament instability test
Indicative of tear– gamekeepers or skiers thumb
Hold thumb in extension and apply valgus force to MCP of thumb, positive is excessive valgus movement
Allen test
Indicative of occlusion in radial or ulnar artery
Open and close fist, maintain closed fat. Compress radial and ulnar arteries. Then relax hand and release pressure on one artery. Positive is delayed or absent flushing
Brunel-Littler test
MCP in slight extension. PT attempts to move PIP into flexion. If does not flex with MCP extended: tight intrinsic or capsular tightness. If flexes with MCP in slight flexion: intrinsic muscle tightness without capsular tightness
Tight retinacular ligament test
PIP in neutral while PT attempts to flex DIP. If unable to flex DIP, retinacular ligaments or capsule may be tight. If able to flex DIP when POP in flexion, capsule normal, ligaments tight
Froment’s sign
Indicative of ulnar nerve compromise or paralysis
Hold a piece of paper between thumb and index finger. Attempt to pull paper away. Positive test is patient flexing distal phalanx of thumb due to adductor pollicis muscle paralysis
Phalen’s test
Indicative of carpal tunnel
Maximal wrist flexion (reverse prayer) for 60 seconds. Positive is tingling in thumb, index finger, middle finger, lateral half of ring finger
Finkelstein test
Indicative of de Quervain’s
Make fist with thumb tucked inside. PT ulnar lay deviates wrist. Pain over abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons
Grind test
Indicative of CMC DJD
Compression and rotation through metacarpal of thumb, pain is positive
Murphy sign
Indicative of dislocated lunate.
Ask to make a fist, third metacarpal remains level with second and fourth metacarpal
Ely’s test
Indicative of rectus femoris contracture.
Passively flex knee in prone. Positive is spontaneous hip flexion
Ober’s test
Indicative of TFL tightness
Side lying wth lower leg flexed. Passively extend and abduct top leg, then slowly lower. Positive is inability to adduct and touch table
Piriformis test
Indicative of piriformis tightness or sciatic compression
Sidelying with test leg on top and hip flexed to 60 degrees. Stabilize pelvis and apply adduction force to knee. Positive is pain or tightness
Thomas test
Indicative of hip flexion tightness
Supine with legs fully extended, bring one knee to chest. Positive is straight leg rises from table
Tripod sign
Indicative of tight hamstrings
Sitting with knees flexed over edge of table. Passively extend one knee. Positive is extension of trunk or hamstring tightness
90-90 SLR test
Indicative of hamstring tightness
Supine, stabilize hip in 90 degrees flexion. Extend knee as much as possible. Positive is 20 degrees or more of knee flexion
Barlow’s test
Indicative of hip dysplasia (Peds)
Supine with hips flexed to 90 and knees flexed. Stabilize femur and pelvis and move test leg into adduction while applying forward pressure posterior to greater troch. Clunk or click is positive
Ortolani’s manuever
Indicative of hip dysplasia (Peds)
Supine with hips flexed to 90 and knees flexed. Abduct bilateral hips and gentle pressure at greater trochs until resistance felt at approx 30 degrees positive is click or clunk