Medical Tests for the Shoulder
NAME OF TEST
ANATOMIC, KINESIOLOIC, PHYSIOLOGIC
STARTING POSITION
PROCEDURE
RESULTS & INTERPRETATION POSITIVE
RESULTS & INTERPRETATION NEGATIVE
Jerk Test
~ The shoulder joint has three bones: the shoulder blade (scapula), the collarbone (clavicle), and the upper arm bone (humerus). The head of the upper arm bone (humeral head) rests in a shallow socket in the shoulder blade called the glenoid. The head of the upper arm bone is usually much larger than the socket, and a soft fibrous tissue rim called the labrum surrounds the socket to help stabilize the joint. The rim deepens the socket by up to 50% so that the head of the upper arm bone fits better. In addition, it serves as an attachment site for several ligaments.
~Patient sits with the arm medially rotated and forward flexed to 90 deg
~Examiner grasps the patients elbow and axially loads the humerus in a proximal direction. While maintainin the axial loading, the examiner moves the arm horizontally (cross-flexion/horizontal adduction) across the body.
~Production of a sudden jerk or clunk as the humeral head slides off (sublaxes) the back of the glenoid.
~When the arm is returned to the original 90 deg. Abduction position, a 2nd jerk may be felt as the head reduces
~No jerk or clunk
Circumduction Test
~ The Shoulder Circumduction test is a simple test of shoulder flexibility. This test is part of the protocol for the Groningen Fitness Test for the Elderly. Another shoulder flexibility test designed for testing the elderly is the Back Scratch Test.
~Patient is in standing position. The examiner stands behind the patient grasping the patient’s forearm with the hand.
~The examiner begins circumduction by extending the patient’s arm while maintaining slight abduction. As the circumduction continues into elevation, the arm is brought over the top and into the flexed and adducted position.
~If the examiner palpates the posterior aspect of the patient’s shoulder as the arm moves downward in forward
ANATOMIC, KINESIOLOIC, PHYSIOLOGIC
STARTING POSITION
PROCEDURE
RESULTS & INTERPRETATION POSITIVE
RESULTS & INTERPRETATION NEGATIVE
Jerk Test
~ The shoulder joint has three bones: the shoulder blade (scapula), the collarbone (clavicle), and the upper arm bone (humerus). The head of the upper arm bone (humeral head) rests in a shallow socket in the shoulder blade called the glenoid. The head of the upper arm bone is usually much larger than the socket, and a soft fibrous tissue rim called the labrum surrounds the socket to help stabilize the joint. The rim deepens the socket by up to 50% so that the head of the upper arm bone fits better. In addition, it serves as an attachment site for several ligaments.
~Patient sits with the arm medially rotated and forward flexed to 90 deg
~Examiner grasps the patients elbow and axially loads the humerus in a proximal direction. While maintainin the axial loading, the examiner moves the arm horizontally (cross-flexion/horizontal adduction) across the body.
~Production of a sudden jerk or clunk as the humeral head slides off (sublaxes) the back of the glenoid.
~When the arm is returned to the original 90 deg. Abduction position, a 2nd jerk may be felt as the head reduces
~No jerk or clunk
Circumduction Test
~ The Shoulder Circumduction test is a simple test of shoulder flexibility. This test is part of the protocol for the Groningen Fitness Test for the Elderly. Another shoulder flexibility test designed for testing the elderly is the Back Scratch Test.
~Patient is in standing position. The examiner stands behind the patient grasping the patient’s forearm with the hand.
~The examiner begins circumduction by extending the patient’s arm while maintaining slight abduction. As the circumduction continues into elevation, the arm is brought over the top and into the flexed and adducted position.
~If the examiner palpates the posterior aspect of the patient’s shoulder as the arm moves downward in forward