important characteristic of physical examination tests is the ability to detect pathology

 

An important characteristic of physical examination tests is the ability to detect pathology. This paper is to be seen as a user’s guide to the best shoulder examination tests – the background being a review from Hegedus et al. (Br J Sports Med 46 (2012) 964–78). 

The guide includes the modified dynamic labral shear test, which may be diagnostic of labral tears in general with both high sensitivity and specificity. The passive distraction test may be used for ruling in a SLAP lesion while the passive compression test may be used for both ruling in and ruling out a SLAP lesion.

The three tendinopathy tests: Belly off sign, Belly press test modified and Lateral Jobe may be used for both ruling in and ruling out subscapularis and rotator cuff tendinopathy, respectively.

The shrug sign may be used to rule out stiffness-related disorders as well as rotator cuff tendinopathy. The bony apprehension test may be used for both ruling in and ruling out a diagnosis of bony instability. The olecranon-manubrium test may be used to rule in or rule out bony abnormalities. > From: Myer et al., Br J Sports Med 47 (2013) 903–907. All rights reserved to the BMJ Publishing Group, Ltd. Image taken from: sciencedirect.com