MSK/Orthopedic Special Tests questions
and answers
Hawkins-Kennedy Test - ANSWER>>*Tendinitis/Impingement Syndrome of
supraspinatus*
patient- 90deg flexion, 90deg elbow flexion
PT- stand in front of patient, try to IR arm
(passive test)
positive- reproduction of symptoms
Neers Test - ANSWER>>*Tendinitis/Impingement Syndrome of supraspinatus*
patient- IR humerus
PT- behind/side of patient, stabilize scapula and try to move arm into flexion in
the scapular plane (passive test)
positive- pain
Empty Can Test - ANSWER>>*Partial RC Tear*
patient- elevate arms to 90 in scapular plane and IR so thumbs pointed down
PT- in front of patient, push down on patients forearm
positive- weakness or pain in supraspinatus region
Drop Arm Test - ANSWER>>*RC total tear*
AB patients arm to 90 and as them to keep it there, release support and see if
patient can hold in this position
positive- inability to hold arm in position
Speed's Test - ANSWER>>*Biceps Tendinitis*
,(not shown in picture but palpate tendon while applying resistance) palpate for
biceps tendon, have patient supinate and move into arm flexion, PT applies
resistance at distal forearm
positive- tenderness in bicipital groove
Crossover Impingement Test - ANSWER>>*AC separation, RC impingement*
patient is standing and clinician support at upper back while patient brings arm
across chest, apply OP (COAG has PT on other side of patient bringing arm across)
positive, location of pain- anterior (subscap, supraspinatus, long head biceps);
superior (AC joint); posterior (infraspinatus, teres minor, posterior capsule)
GH Instability Ant/Post - ANSWER>>*GH instability*
patient seated with arms relaxed on thigh, stabilize GH joint with one hand, with
other hand grasp humeral head and compress into joint then slide
anterior/posterior
positive- increased translation, reproduction of symptoms
GH Instability Inferior (Sulcus Sign) - ANSWER>>*GH instability*
patient seated, pull down on humerus, will see separation between humerus and
acromion
positive-excess inferior translation
O'Brien's Test - ANSWER>>*SLAP lesion*
patient raise arm to 90deg flexion, horizontal adduction 10deg, IR and push down
at distal arm. Then have pt ER and push down at distal arm.
positive- pain inside shoulder joint with IR and pressure, relief with ER and
pressure
, Clunk Test - ANSWER>>*labrum tear*
(easier to do behind patient, don't forget support under posterior aspect humeral
head) patient supine, put arm in 120-130 degrees flexion with one hand
supporting under posterior aspect of humeral head, other hand hold humerus just
proximal to elbow. Apply anterior force while compression and rotation to the
humerus (into ER)
positive- pain, clunk, grinding
Apprehension or Relocation Test - ANSWER>>*anterior GH instability*
patient supine, shoulder 90 degrees AB, ER. While patients arm rested on your
thigh, apply an ER force at distal forearm. If patient is apprehensive or reproduces
pain, apply posterior force and repeat.
positive- pain or apprehension with apprehension test, relief with posterior force
Lateral Collateral Stress Test (Elbow) - ANSWER>>*Lateral Collateral Ligament*
Varus at 5-30 deg elbow flexion
stabilize at humerus and apply varus force (will move forearm medially)
positive- gapping or pain at lateral side
Medial Collateral Stress (Elbow) - ANSWER>>*Medial Collateral Ligament*
Valgus at 20-30 deg elbow flexion
stabilize at humerus and apply valgus force (move forearm laterally)
positive- gapping or pain at medial side
ECRB Test (Elbow) - ANSWER>>*Lateral Epicondylitis*
Wrist Extension Test- Cozen's (Elbow) - ANSWER>>*Lateral Epicondylitis*
Have patient make fist and try to push into wrist flexion, support under elbow.
*top left on picture*
and answers
Hawkins-Kennedy Test - ANSWER>>*Tendinitis/Impingement Syndrome of
supraspinatus*
patient- 90deg flexion, 90deg elbow flexion
PT- stand in front of patient, try to IR arm
(passive test)
positive- reproduction of symptoms
Neers Test - ANSWER>>*Tendinitis/Impingement Syndrome of supraspinatus*
patient- IR humerus
PT- behind/side of patient, stabilize scapula and try to move arm into flexion in
the scapular plane (passive test)
positive- pain
Empty Can Test - ANSWER>>*Partial RC Tear*
patient- elevate arms to 90 in scapular plane and IR so thumbs pointed down
PT- in front of patient, push down on patients forearm
positive- weakness or pain in supraspinatus region
Drop Arm Test - ANSWER>>*RC total tear*
AB patients arm to 90 and as them to keep it there, release support and see if
patient can hold in this position
positive- inability to hold arm in position
Speed's Test - ANSWER>>*Biceps Tendinitis*
,(not shown in picture but palpate tendon while applying resistance) palpate for
biceps tendon, have patient supinate and move into arm flexion, PT applies
resistance at distal forearm
positive- tenderness in bicipital groove
Crossover Impingement Test - ANSWER>>*AC separation, RC impingement*
patient is standing and clinician support at upper back while patient brings arm
across chest, apply OP (COAG has PT on other side of patient bringing arm across)
positive, location of pain- anterior (subscap, supraspinatus, long head biceps);
superior (AC joint); posterior (infraspinatus, teres minor, posterior capsule)
GH Instability Ant/Post - ANSWER>>*GH instability*
patient seated with arms relaxed on thigh, stabilize GH joint with one hand, with
other hand grasp humeral head and compress into joint then slide
anterior/posterior
positive- increased translation, reproduction of symptoms
GH Instability Inferior (Sulcus Sign) - ANSWER>>*GH instability*
patient seated, pull down on humerus, will see separation between humerus and
acromion
positive-excess inferior translation
O'Brien's Test - ANSWER>>*SLAP lesion*
patient raise arm to 90deg flexion, horizontal adduction 10deg, IR and push down
at distal arm. Then have pt ER and push down at distal arm.
positive- pain inside shoulder joint with IR and pressure, relief with ER and
pressure
, Clunk Test - ANSWER>>*labrum tear*
(easier to do behind patient, don't forget support under posterior aspect humeral
head) patient supine, put arm in 120-130 degrees flexion with one hand
supporting under posterior aspect of humeral head, other hand hold humerus just
proximal to elbow. Apply anterior force while compression and rotation to the
humerus (into ER)
positive- pain, clunk, grinding
Apprehension or Relocation Test - ANSWER>>*anterior GH instability*
patient supine, shoulder 90 degrees AB, ER. While patients arm rested on your
thigh, apply an ER force at distal forearm. If patient is apprehensive or reproduces
pain, apply posterior force and repeat.
positive- pain or apprehension with apprehension test, relief with posterior force
Lateral Collateral Stress Test (Elbow) - ANSWER>>*Lateral Collateral Ligament*
Varus at 5-30 deg elbow flexion
stabilize at humerus and apply varus force (will move forearm medially)
positive- gapping or pain at lateral side
Medial Collateral Stress (Elbow) - ANSWER>>*Medial Collateral Ligament*
Valgus at 20-30 deg elbow flexion
stabilize at humerus and apply valgus force (move forearm laterally)
positive- gapping or pain at medial side
ECRB Test (Elbow) - ANSWER>>*Lateral Epicondylitis*
Wrist Extension Test- Cozen's (Elbow) - ANSWER>>*Lateral Epicondylitis*
Have patient make fist and try to push into wrist flexion, support under elbow.
*top left on picture*
