Specialty Tests Flashcards
Apprehension Test
Patient is seated/supine. Shoulder is abducted to 90 and elbow flexed to 90. Stabilize shoulder with one hand and force arm into external rotation
+: patient apprehensive of repeat dislocation
Pathology indicated: Glenohumeral instability
Sulcus Sign
Grasp patient’s elbow and apply inferior traction
+: indent appears in area beneath acromion
Pathology indicated: glenohumeral instability
Yergason’s Test
Patient’s arm at side with elbow flexed to 90. Physician uses one hand to palpate bicipital groove and monitors there. Other hand grasps wrist. Patient will supinate and externally rotate against physicians force
+: pain/tendon subluxation out of groove
Pathology indicated: unstable bicipital tendon
Speed’s test
patient’s arm flexed at the shoulder with hand supinated. slightly flex patients elbow, resist at forearm while patient flexes shoulder
+: pain in bicipital groove
pathology indicated: bicipital tendonitis of longhead biceps
Empty can test
flex patients shoulders to 90 while horizontally abducting to 45. Then internally rotate both arms so thumbs are pointing down. Press down on forearms while patient resists
+: pain or weakness
Pathology indicated: Rotator cuff pathology (specifically supraspinatus)
Drop-Arm Test
Patient abducts arm to 90 then slowly drops arm
+: arm will drop or gentle tap on wrist will cause arm to drop
Pathology indicated: Full thickness tear of supraspinatus
Painful arc test
Patient abducts arm starting at their side
+: pain is elicited within 60-120 degrees of shoulder abduction
Pathology indicated: subacromial impingement and/or rotator cuff injury
Neer Impingement
Stabilize patient’s shoulder. With forearm pronated, passively flex shoulder to fully flexed position
+: pain
Pathology indicated: subacromial bursa or rotator cuff impingement
Hawkins Test
Flex shoulder to 90, flex elbow to 90, and passively rotate the humerus into internal rotation.
+: Pain
Pathology indicated: rotator cuff or subacromial bursa impingement
Lift Off Test
Place patient’s arm into internal rotation and extension. Patient pushes arm into further internal rotation as physician resists
+: weakness
Pathology indicated: subscapularis weakness
Cross Arm Test
Physician passively adducts patients arm across the chest and rests patient’s hand on their opposite shoulder
+: Pain in the AC join with end range adduction
Pathology indicated: AC joint pathology
Apley Scratch Test
Physician shoulder make note of how far the patient can reach
Pathology indicated: ROM
Valgus Stress test of Elbow
Arm slightly abducted and externally rotated, Forearm supinated and flexed to apex. 30 degrees. Slight medial directed value stress is applied
+: pain/tenderness w/ palpation and increased laxity
Pathology Indicated: Sprained Medial (Ulnar) collateral ligament
Varus Stress Test of elbow
Arm slightly abducted and internally rotated. elbow flexed to approx. 15 degrees. A slight lateral stress is applied to elbow joint
+: pain/ increased laxity
Pathology indicated: Sprained lateral collateral (radial) ligament
Tinel Test (elbow)
Tap between olecranon and medial epicondyle in ulnar groove
+: test causes tingling sensation down forearm within ulnar nerve distribution
Pathology indicated: ulnar nerve entrapment/cubital tunnel syndrome
Golfer’s elbow test
Patient’s elbow is flexed to 90 degrees and forearm is placed in supination. Physician placed one hand under proximal forearm for stabilization and the other over the patient’s wrist to resist movement. Patient is instructed to flex
+: Pain/tenderness around medial epicondyle
Pathology indicated: Medial epicondylitis
Tennis Elbow test (Cozen’s Test)
Patient’s elbow is flexed at 90 degrees and arm is placed into pronation. Examiner places one hand under proximal forearm for stabilization and the other hand over the patient’s hand to resist movement. Instruct patient to extend wrist
+: pain/tenderness around lateral epicondyle, may radiate down lateral forearm
Pathology indicated: Lateral epicondylitis
“OK” Sign
Patient is unable to make the “O” with thumb and forefinger pinched together
Pathology indicated: anterior interosseous nerve
Tinel’s Sign (hand)
tap over the transverse carpal ligament/flexor retinaculum
+: numbness/tingling/pain radiating to thumb, index and middle finger
Pathology indicated: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Phalen’s Sign
Place dorsal aspects of patient’s hands together and force into wrist flexion. Hold for 60 seconds
+: numbness/tingling/pain radiating to thumb, index and middle finger
Pathology indicated: Carpal Tunnel syndrome
Finkelstein Test
Ask patient to make a fist and then ulnar deviate the wrist
+: increased pain in 1st dorsal compartment
Pathology indicated: DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis
Log Roll
Roll the patient’s leg into internal and external rotation
+: pain
Pathology indicated: central or peripheral compartment pathology