Upper Extremity Special Tests

Shoulder

• AC Joint = sprain (ligament)

  • Compression test (pushing collarbone and scapula)

  • Piano keysign

• SC Joint

  • Piano keysign

• Rotator Cuff

  • Drop arm test

  • Empty can test (pinky up)

  • Painful arc (no 0-60, yes 60-120, no 120+)

• Instability

  • Puts people at risk of starins and labral tears

  • Anterior aprehension test (lie on back and turn shoulder internally)

  • Posterior aprehension test

  • Sulcus sign test (pull down on the humerus to see if there is a gap above the humeral head → applied inferior force)

    • Good indicator of multidirectional instability

  • Jobe’s relocation and surprise test

Elbow

• Tricep and bicep tendonitis

  • Manual muscle tes

• UCL and RCL

  • Valgus and varus force

• Lateral and medial epicondylitis

  • Medial: wrist or finger flexors

  • Lateral: wrist or finger extensors

Wrist

• De Quervain’s

  • Finkelstein test

• Scaphoid fracture

  • Pressure to snuff box

Hand

• Game keeper’s thumb = UCL of the thumb

  • Valgus force