Wrist & Hand Flashcards
Ligamentous Instability Test (fingers)
Purpose: laxity, ligament tear/strain
Positive: laxity
pt: pronated
PT: prox stabilization; apply varus/valgus force
Bunnel Littler Test
Purpose: intrinsic m tightness; capsular tightness/contracture
Positive: PIP doesn’t flex while in MCP extension
pt: MCP slight ext
PT: flex PIP
Thumb UCL Instability Test
Purpose: UCL strain/tear and accessory lateral lig
Positive: laxity
PT: stabilize MCP of thumb; apply valgus stress
Watson Test
aka: scaphoid shift test
Purpose: S-L ligament instability; scaphoid fx
Positive: scaphoid clunks into place; pain
pt: forearm on table, pronated
PT: full ulnar deviation, slight extension; posterior glide of scaphoid; then slightly radially deviate and flex putting sublux stress on scaphoid if unstable
Sharpey’s Test
aka: TFCC load test
Purpose: TFCC injury (global test for the complex)
Positive: pain, clicking, crepitus
PT: stabilize forearm, cup ulnar side of hand; axially load TFCC; flex/ext or rotate wrist in ulnar dev
Grind Test
Purpose: DJD/OA
Positive: pain, tenderness, pulling away
PT: stabilize radius and ulna, grasp thumb MCP; apply axial compression and rotation
Finkelstein’s Test
Purpose: DeQuervian’s
Positive: pain over abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons distally
pt: sit/stand; cup thumb in fist, thumb side up
PT: ulnar deviate wrist
Sweater Finger Sign
Purpose: rupture of flexor digitorum profundus
Positive: cannot flex DIP of a finger
pt: make a fist
Froment’s Sign
Purpose: ulnar n palsy
Positive: IP jt of thumb flexes bc of paralysis of in adductor pollicis m
pt: pinch piece of paper
PT: pull paper away
Phalen’s Test
Purpose: carpal tunnel / median n compression
Positive: n/t in median n distribution
pt: flex wrists, put dorsal surface of hands together; press for 1 min
Reverse Phalen’s Test
Purpose: carpal tunnel / median n compression
Positive: n/t in median n root distribution
pt: flex wrists, put volar surface of hands together, press for 1 min
Tinel Sign
Purpose: carpal tunnel / median n compression
Positive: n/t in median n root distribution
PT hold at distal forearm; tap over carpal tunnel
Allen Test
Purpose: patency of radial and ulnar aa
Positive: hand doesn’t return to color
PT: thumbs on aa
pt: open/close hand quickly, make fist, then open
PT: release thumb from 1 a
-repeat with other a
Figure of 8
Purpose: edema
pt: pronated
PT: ulndar styloid to volar radisu to dorsal 5th MCP jt to volar 2nd MCP and back to start
Dynamometer Testing
Purpose: grip strength
