Used to determine is the state of the subclavian artery Steps: Patient is standing or seated Patient is instructed to abduct the shoulders to 90 degrees, externally rotate, and flex the elbows Instruct the patient to flex and extend their fingers for up to 3 minutes Physician watch for discoloration […]
Category: Upper Limb
18 posts
A good mnemonic to remember: “Eating Fried Chicken makes ABs ADd Inches Definitely” Steps: Know the exact order! Shoulder extension with elbow flexed Doctors cephalad hand stabilizes the acromioclaviular + scapulothoracic joints to prevent their motion = isolates the glenohumeral joint Shoulder flexion with elbow extended Doctor continues to stabilize […]
Test for adequate circulation of the arteries of the hand First the radial and ulnar arteries need to be palpated. Then, both arteries are blocked by the examiner applying sufficient pressure while the patient makes a fist. This forces all of the blood out of the hand. Next, the patient relaxes their […]
Tests for DeQuarvain Tenosynovitis Steps: Have the patient close their fingers around their thumb Doctors holds on patients hand to ulnar deviate the wrist to put a pull on the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus Test is considered to be positive if pain is reproduced indicating tenosynovitis
Used to test for impingement of the median nervein the carpal tunnel Phalen Test: Patient is instructed to place the dorsal surfaces of the hands together and fully flex the wrists. This position is to be held for 60 seconds or until numbness/tingling of the hand(s) is felt, whichever is shorter Reverse […]
Used to assess for neuropathy or median nerve compression In the hand, the wrist is passively extended, and a tapping force is applied directly over the flexor retinaculum Test is considered to be positive if pain or paresthesias are reproduced within the median nerve distribution May be used in other areas of […]
Used to assess for neuropathy or nerve compression Test is performed by forcefully tapping at the cubital tunnel between the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the olecranon. Positive if symptoms of pain or paresthesias are reproduced in the ulnar nerve distribution.
Used to determine is the state of the subclavian artery Steps: The test is considered to be positive if the radial pulse weakens or fades completely. Positive test indicates there is compression of subclavian artery (Arterial component of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) Video Tutorial:
Used to assess for acromioclavicular joint pathology Steps Physician passively places the arm into 90 degrees of forward flexion and adducts the arm until fully adducted across the chest with monitoring the AC joint with the other hand. The examiner may then gently add additional medially direcected force to further stress the […]
Used to determine labral, acromioclavicular (AC), or other anterior shoulder pathology Steps: Part one: Patient forward flexes the arm with the elbow extended. The patient then internally rotates the arm so THE THUMB IS POINTING DOWN. The patient then adducts the arm 5-10 degrees and resists the downward force applied by the […]
Used to determine active range of motion of the shoulder Steps: Patient may be seated or standing Ask the patient to first reach behind their back to try and reach the opposite shoulder 2. Next, have the patient reach across their chest to grab the other shoulder from the front. 3. […]
Used to detect tears in the rotator cuff muscles, particularly the supraspinatus Steps: Option 1 Patient fully abducts the arm, then is instructed to slowly lower the arm Test is considered to be positive if: patient’s arm with drop suddenly during the lowering of the arm (adduction back to the midline). Option […]
Used to assess whether or not the biceps tendon is stable within the groove, as well as for the presence of biceps tendinopathies Steps: Patient flexes the elbow to 90 degrees Examiner holds the elbow of the arm being tested in one hand, and with the other the physician externally rotates the arm and […]
Used to test for biceps tendinopathy Steps: Test is considered to be positive with pain at the shoulder/biceps tendon Video Tutorial:
Used to determine the integrity of the supraspinatus tendon Steps: Patient seated, physician standing Physician flexes patient’s shoulder and elbow 90° Physician internally rotates shoulder making sure it remains straight Test is considered to be positive if: pain upon internal rotation – indicates shoulder impingement
Used to test for supraspinatus or biceps brachii impingement Steps: With the patient’s arm forward flexed to 90 degrees and internally rotated so that the thumb is pointing downward, the examiner instructs the patient to continue flexion up toward the ceiling against physician resistance. Test is considered to be positive if: […]
Used to test for chronic anterior shoulder instability Steps: The examiner stands behind the patient and with one hand places the patient’s arm into abduction and external rotation. With the other hand the patient contacts the posterior shoulder and pushes anterior Test is considered to be positive if: the patient reports pain or a feeling of impending dislocation
Used to determine weakness of the Serratus Anterior Serratus Anterior Innervation: Long thoracic nerve, C5-7 Steps: Examiner instructs patient to place their hands at chest height against a wall and to push forward Test is considered to be Positive if scapula lifts off of the thoracic cage
