Tests Flashcards
(38 cards)
Spurling’s
Tests for: cervical nerve root impingement
Test: slightly extend the cervical spine with rotation and sidebending toward involved side and apply axial compression
Positive: reproduction of neck, shoulder, or arm pain
Straight leg raising test
Tests for: nerve root irritation or lumbar disk herniation at L4, L5, S1 levels
Test: supine, support foot around calcaneus and lift leg
Positive: pain extends down the whole leg
Bragard stretch test
Tests for: used to confirm positive straight leg raise
Test: lower flexed hip until just below where pain was, dorsiflex foot
Positive: reproduction of pain
Femoral stretch test
Tests for: nerve root compression of L1-3
Test: prone, extend hip while supporting knee
Positive: pain
Yergason
Tests for: stability of biceps tendon, tendonitis
Test: palpate long head, flex patient’s elbow at right angle, have patient externally rotate shoulder with resistance against forearm; for tendonitis: repeat but supinate forearm instead of externally rotating
Positive: tendon pops out of groove; tenderness at groove is positive for tendonitis
Drop arm test
Tests for: rotator cuff tear (suprasinatus)
Test: abduct patient’s arm to 90, ask him/her to slowly lower their arm»while they do that, push the arm
Positive: patient cannot hold arm and it drops
Neer test
Tests for: rotator cuff inflammation, impingement, or tear
Test: have patient internally rotate shoulder and flex patient’s shoulder up to 150
Positive: shoulder pain
Hawkins test
Tests for: rotator cuff impingement or tear
Test: flex elbow to 90, abduct arm to 90, internally rotate humerus
Positive: pain
Supraspinatus test
Tests for: supraspinatus tendonitis or rotator cuff tear
Test: have patient abduct 90 and flex his/her arm 30 followed by internal rotation of shoulder (empty can)
Positive: weakness and pain
Apprehension test
Tests for: anterior subluxing humerus
Test: have patient flex elbow, abduct their shoulder 90 and externally rotate it»push shoulder from posterior side while further externally rotating the arm
Positive: patient exhibits apprehension
Jerk test
Tests for: posterior subluxing humerus
Test: flex elbow and shoulder 90 and internally rotate the shoulder»push humerus posteriorly while externally rotating the shoulder
Positive: clunk
Sulcus test
Tests for: inferior subluxing humerus
Test: place one hand on lateral acromion and pull down on arm relaxed at patient’s side
Positive: widening of sulcus between humerus and acromion
Ligamentous stability test
Tests for: stability of medial and lateral collateral ligaments of the elbow
Test: cup posterior elbow with one hand and hold supinated forearm during the test»provide valgus stress then varus stress to the lateral side
Positive: gapping
Tinel’s sign at the elbow
Tests for: irritation or entrapment of ulnar nerve
Test: locate ulnar groove and tap several times
Positive: tingling sensation down the forearm to ulnar distribution of hand
Tennis elbow test (Cozen’s test)
Tests for: lateral epicondylitis
Test: have patient pronate forearm with elbow bent, ask patient to make fist and extend upwards»examiner holds elbow and attempts to flex wrist while patient resists
Positive: severe pain at lateral epicondyle
Tinel’s sign at wrist
Tests for: carpal tunnel syndrome
Test: tap at median nerve at wrist above flexor retinaculum
Positive: paresthesias of 1-3 and 1/2 of 4th digit
Phalen’s test
Tests for: carpal tunnel syndrome
Test: flexing patient’s wrists to maximum degree and holding it for at least one minute
Positive: paresthesias in 1-3 and 1/2 of 4th digits
Thomas test
Tests for: Flexion contractures of the hip
Test: have patient lay supine and flex one leg as far as it will go
Positive: normal flexion of raised leg and 15+ degrees of flexion in opposite hip
Trendelenburg test
Tests for: weak hip abductor muscles
Test: Ask patient to stand and balance on one foot. Observe patient from behind
Positive: Iliac crest drops on side of lifted leg, then hip abductors on opposite hip are weak
Patrick/Faber test
Tests for: pathology in the hip and SI joint
Test: Have patient lie supine on table and place foot of involved side on their opposite knee; to stress SI joint, place one hand on flexed knee and other on ASIS of opposite side
Positive: presence of muscle spasm, limitation of motion, or pain in groin, anterior thigh, or trochanteric region of bent leg indicates hip joint pathology; pain in ipsilateral SI joint indicates SI joint disorder
Lateral/medial ligament stability testing
Tests for: stability of LCL/MCL
Test: Have patient supine with knee nearly extended, stabilize lower leg against your body and apply varus then valgus force
Positive: Abnormal gapping on either side
Drawer tests for the knee
Tests for: ACL/PCL tear
Test: With patient supine, have them flex knee to 45-90, stabilize leg by sitting gently on patient’s foot, grasp leg just below knee with both hands and jerk tibia forward/backward
Positive: abnormal forward/backward mobility of 2 cm or more
Lachman test
Tests for: ACL tear
Test: Have patient supine with knee at 20-30 degrees of flexion, with one hand stabilize the distal femur and with the other hand, grasp the proximal tibia, apply pressure attempting to translate tibia anteriorly
Positive: abnormal forward mobility
McMurray test
Tests for: meniscal tear
Test: Supine with legs flat, flex knee with one hand on their heel and the other on their knee, apply valgus force to knee while simultaneously externally rotating the lower leg as you lower it»then do varus force while internally rotating and lowering the leg
Positive: palpable or audible click or pain, grinding, and/or lack of extension
