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Musculoskeletal: Special Tests
| Special Test | + Result Indication | Test Description |
|---|---|---|
| anterior apprehension test | look of apprehension = pt. prone to anterior dislocation of shoulder | pt. supine with arm in 90 deg abd. therapist ER pt's shoulder |
| posterior apprehension test | look of apprehension = pt. prone to posterior dislocation of shoulder | pt supine with arm in 90 deg flexion and IR. Therapist applies a posterior force through the long axis of the humerus |
| Speed's test | pain or tenderness in bicipital groove region = bicipital tendonitis | pt sitting elbow extended forearm supinated. Therapist places hand over bicipital groove and other on forearm. Therapist resists active shoulder flexion |
| Yeargason's test | pain or tenderness in bicipital groove = bicipital tendonitis | pt in sitting 90 deg elbow flex and forearm pronated. therapist places one hand on pt's forearm and other on bicipital groove. pt directed to activitely supinate and ER against resistance |
| drop arm test | inability to slowly lower arm or severe pain = tear in rotator cuff | pt sitting/standing arm in 90 deg abd. pt is asked to slowly lower arm to side |
| Hawkins-Kennedy test | pain = impingement involving supraspinatus tendon | pt sitting or standing. therapist flexes pt's shoulder to 90 and IR arm |
| Neer test | pain = impingement involving supraspinatus tendon | pt sitting/standing. Therapist positions one hand on the posterior aspect of the pt's scapula and other on stabilizing the elbow. therapist elevates pt arm through flexion |
| supraspinatus test (empty can) | weakness or pain = tear of supraspinatus, impingement, or suprascapular nerve involvement | pt arm in 90 deg abd followed by 30 of horiz add, thumb down. therapist resists attempt to abd arm |
| Adson maneuver | absent or diminished radial pulse = TOS | pt sitting/standing. therapist monitors radial pulse and asks pt to rotate head to face test shoulder. pt asked to extend head while therapist ER and ext pt shoulder |
| Allen test | absent or diminished radial pulse = TOS | pt sitting/standing test arm in 90 abd, ER, and elbow flex. pt rotates head away from test shoulder while therapist monitors radial pulse |
| Roos test | Inability to maintain test position, weakness of the arms, sensory loss or ischemic pain = TOS | pt sitting arm in 90 abd, ER, and elbow flexion. pt asked to open/close hands for 3 minutes |
| varus stress test (elbow) | Increased laxity in the lateral collateral ligament when compared to the contralateral side, apprehension or pain = lateral collateral ligament sprain | pt sitting with elbow in 20-30 flex. therapist places one hand on elbow and other prox to pt's wrist. therapist applies varus force while palpating lateral jt. line |
| valgus stress test (elbow) | Increased laxity in the medial collateral ligament when compared to the contralateral side, apprehension or pain = medial collateral ligament | pt sitting with elbow flexed 20-30. Therpist places one hand on elbow and other prox to wrist. Therapist applies valgus force while palpating medial jt. line |
| Cozen's test | Pain in the lateral epicondyle region or muscle weakness = lateral epicondylitis | pt sitting with elbow in slight flex. therapist places thumb on pt's lat. epicondyle while stabilizing elbow jt. pt asked to make fist, pronate forearm, radial deviate and extend wrist against resistance |
| lateral epicondylitis test | Pain in the lateral epicondyle region or muscle weakness = lateral epicondylitis | pt sitting. therapist stabilizes elbow and places other hand on dorsal aspect of pt's hand distal to PIP jt. pt extends third digit against resistance |
| medial epicondylitis test | Pain in the medial epicondyle region = medial epicondylitis | pt sitting. therapist palpates medial epicondyle and supinates the forearm, extends wrist, and extends elbow |
| Tinel's sign (ulnar) | Paresthesia in ulnar nerve distribution of forearm, hand, and fingers = ulnar nerve compression or compromise | pt sitting with elbow in slight flex. therapist taps with index finger between olecranon and medial epicondyle |
| ulnar collateral ligament test | excessive valgus movement in thumb = tear of ulnar collateral and accessory collateral ligaments (gamekeeper's/skier's thumb) | pt sitting . therapist holds thumb in ext. and applies a valgus force to MCP jt of thumb |
| capillary refill test | delayed or muted response of color returning to nails (greater than 2 sec) = arterial insufficiency | pt sitting/standing. therapist compresses pt's nailbed and after releasing pressure notes amount of time for color to return |
| Froment's sign | pt. flexing distal phalanx of thumb = adductor pollicis paralysis/ulnar n. compromise or paralysis. | pt sitting or standing. asked to hold paper between thumb and index. therapist attempts to pull paper away |
| Phalen's test | tingling in thumb, index finger, middle finger and lateral half of ring finger = carpal tunnel syndrome | pt sitting/standing. therapist flexes pt's wrist maximally and asks pt to hold position for 60 sec |
| Tinel's sign (median) | tingling in median n. distribution = carpal tunnel syndrome | pt sitting/standing. therapist taps over volar aspect of pt's wrist |
| Finkelstein test | pain over abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis = tenosynovitis in thumb (deQuervain's) | pt sitting/standing and asked to make fist with thumb tucked inside fingers. Therapist stabilizes forearm and ulnarly deviates wrist |
| Ely's test | spontaneous hip flexion occuring simultaneously with knee flexion = rectus femoris contracture | pt prone while therapist passively flexes pt. knee |
| Ober's test | inability of test leg to adduct and touch table = TFL contracture | pt sidelying with lower leg flexed at hip and knee. Therapist moves test leg into hip ext and abd and then attempts to lower the leg |
| Piriformis test | pain or tightness = piriformis tightness or compression on the sciatic n. caused by piriformis | pt sidelying. leg positioned toward ceiling and hip flexed to 60. Therapist places hand on pelvis and other on knee. Stabilize pelvis and apply downward force on knee |
| Thomas test | the straight leg rises from the table = hip flexion contracture | pt supine with legs fully ext. pt asked to bring one knee to chest. Observe position of contralateral hip |
| Tripod sign | tightness of hamstring or extension of the trunk in order to limit the effect of the tight hamstring = tight hamstring | pt sitting with knees flexed 90 over edge of table. therapist passively ext one knee |
| 90-90 Straight leg raise | knee remaining in 20 deg or more of flexion = tight hamstring | pt supine. Hip 90 flex with knee relaxed. Therapist passively ext. knee |
| Craig's test | tests for deg of anteversion @ hip. normal for adult= 8-15 | pt prone with knee flex 90. therapist palpates posterior aspect of greater trochanter and IR/ER hip until greater trochanter is parallel with table |
| Patrick's test (FABER) | failure of test leg to abduct below the level of the opposite leg = iliopsoas, sacroiliac, or hip jt. abnormalities | pt supine with hip flexed, abducted, and ER on opposite leg. Therapist slowly lowers the leg in abduction toward the table |
| scouring test | grinding-caching or crepitation in the hip = arthritis, avascular necrosis, or an osteochondral defect in hip | pt supine. Therapist flexes and adducts the hip with knee in max flexion. Therapist provides compressive force through shaft of femur while passively moving hip |
| Trendelenburg test | a drop of the pelvis on the unsupported side = weakness of gluteus medius on supported side | pt standing and asked to stand on one leg for approx. 10 seconds |
| anterior drawer test (knee) | excessive anterior translation of tibia = ACL injury. less reliable than Lachman | pt supine with knee flexed to 90 and hip flexed to 45. therapist stabilizes lower leg by sitting on it. therapist grasps proximal tibia, places thumbs on tibial plateau, and administers and ant. directed force to tibia on the femur |
| Lachman test | excessive anterior translation of tibia = ACL injury. More reliable than Anterior drawer test. | pt supine with knee flexed to 20-30. Therapist stabilizes distal femur with one hand and places other hand on proximal tibia. Therapist applies anterior directed force to tibia on the femur |
| lateral pivot shift test | a palpable shift or clunk occurring between 20-40 degrees of flexion = anterolateral rotary instability | pt supine wit hip flexed and abducted to 30 with slight IR. Therapist grasps leg with one hand and places other hand over lateral surface of proximal tibia. Therapist IR tibia and applies valgus force to knee while knee is slowly flexed |
| posterior drawer test | excessive posterior translation of the tibia = PCL injury | pt supine with knees flexed 90 and hip flexed 45. Therapist stabilizes lower leg by sitting on foot. Therapist grasps pt's proximal tibia with two hands, places thumbs on tibial plateau, and administers a posterior directed force to tibia on femur |
| posterior sag sign | tibia sags back on femur = PCL injury | pt supine with knee flexed 90 and hip flexed 45 |
| valgus stress test (knee) | excessive valgus movement = MCL sprain | pt supine with knee flexed 20-30. Therapist puts one hand on medial ankle and other on lateral surface of knee on jt line. Therapist applies valgus force to knee with distal hand |
| varus stress test (knee) | excessive varus movement = LCL sprain | pt supine with knee flexed 20-30. Therapist puts one hand on lateral ankle and other on medial surface of knee on jt line. Therapist applies varus force to knee with distal hand |
| Apley's compression test | pain or clicking = meniscal lesion | pt prone with knee flexed to 90. Therapist stabilizes pt's femur using one hand and places other hand on pt's heel. Therapist medially and laterally rotates tibia while applying a compressive force through tibia. |
| McMurray test | click or pronounced crepitation over joint line = posterior meniscal lesion | pt supine. Therapist grasps distal leg with one hand and palpates the knee joint with other. With knee fully flexed, therapist medially rotates tibia and extends knee. Therapist repeats same procedure while lat rotating tibia |
| anterior drawer test (ankle) | excessive anterior translation of talus = anterior talofibular ligament sprain | pt supine. Therapist stabilizes distal tibia/fibula with one hand while other hand holds foot in 20 deg plantar flexion and draws talus forward in the ankle mortise |
| talar tilt test | excessive adduction = calcaneofibular ligament sprain | pt sidelying with knee flexed to 90. Therapist stabilizes distal tibia with one hand while grasping talus with other. The foot is maintained in neutral. Therapist tilts talus into abduction and adduction |
| Homan's sign | pain in the calf = DVT | pt supine. Therapist maintains leg in extension and passively dorsiflexes pt's foot |
| Thompson test | absence of plantar flexion = ruptured Achilles tendon | pt prone with foot extended over the edge of table. Therapist asks the patient to relax and proceeds to squeeze the muscle belly of the gastroc/soleus |
| tibial torsion test | tests for degree of tibial torsion. Normal lateral rotation of the tibia is 12-18 degrees in adult. | pt sitting with knees over the edge of the table. Therapist places thumb and index finger of one hand over the medial and lateral malleolus. Therapist measures the acute angle formed by the axes of the knee and ankle |
| true leg length discrepancy test | a bilateral variation of greater than 1 cm = true leg length discrepancy | pt supine with hips and knees extended and legs 15-20 cm apart. Have pt do a bridge first to balance pelvis with legs. Measure from distal point of ASIS to distal point of medial malleoli |
| foraminal compression test | pain radiating into arm toward flexed side = nerve root compression | pt sitting with head laterally flexed. Therapist places both hands on top of pt's head and exerts a downward force |
| vertebral artery test | dizziness, nystagmus, slurred speech, loss of consciousness = compression of vertebral artery | pt supine. Therapist places pt's head in extension, lateral flexion, and rotation to the ipsilateral side |
| sacroiliac joint stress test | unilateral pain in the sacroiliac joint or gluteal area = sacroiliac joint dysfunction | pt supine. Therapist crosses their arms placeing the palms of the hands on the pt's ASIS. Therapist applies a downward and lateral force to pelvis |
| standing flexion test | one PSIS moving further in a cranial direction = articular restriction of SI jt | pt standing with feet 12" apart. Therapist places thumbs on PSIS and monitors movement of bony structures as pt bends forward with knees extended |
| Wright test | absent or diminished radial pulse. May be indicative of compression in the costoclavicular space. | pt sitting or supine. therapist moves pt's arm overhead in the frontal plane while monitoring radial pulse |
| sulcus sign | Inferior laxity is evident if there is a visible widening of the subacromial space with a sulcus appearing in the adjacent area just distal to the lateral acromion. | patient stand/sit with the arm relaxed at the side. therapist applies a downward directed, distractive force on arm. compare (B) |
| sitting flexion test | One PSIS moving further in a crainal direction = articular restriction of SI jt. | pt sitting with knees flexed to 90 and feet on floor. pt's hips should be abducted to allow pt to bend forward. Therapist places thumbs on PSIS and monitors movement of bony structures as pt bends forward and reaches toward floor |
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saram6450
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