Orthopedic Examination Videos
Upper Extremity
Painful Arc
Pain occuring at 60-120 degrees classic for shoulder involvement/pathology (impingement, bursitis, rotator cuff tear, etc.). Pain at end range abduction (170-180 degrees) could indicate AC involvement.
Codman’s Drop Arm
Inability to keep arm abducted, unable to control lowering the arm, or hiking up the shoulder as compensation. Classic for: Full thickness tear of Rotator Cuff.
Hawkin’s Kennedy
Reproduction of pain. Classic for: shoulder involvement (impingement, bursitis, tendinosis, labral tear, etc.).
Neer’s
Reproduction of pain. Classic for: shoulder involvement (impingement, bursitis, tendinosis, labral tear, etc.).
Empty Can Ext Rot Strength test
Reduced strength with external rotation test should cluster with pain and reduced strength during Empty Can Test. Classic for: Shoulder impingement.
Posterior Impingement Sign
Posterior or deep familiar pain. Classic for: Posterior shoulder impingement.
Yergason’s
Reproduction of pain. Classic for: SLAP lesion and/or biceps pathology.
Speed’s
Reproduction of pain at top or deep in shoulder. Classic for: SLAP lesion. If pain in biceps groove, classic for: biceps pathology
Upper Cut Test
Reproduction of pain in Biceps groove. Classic for: Biceps Pathology.
Apley’s Scratch
Observation of general mobility of shoulder to determine need for supportive interventions.
Shrug Sign
Elevated scapula as compensation. Classic for: Rotator Cuff Tear, most often full thickness tear.
Coracoid pain test (clinical sign)
Differentiates true from pseudo-frozen shoulder when pain scale difference of 3+ from coracoid vs AC joint and/or subacromial space.
Cross Body Adduction
Reproduction of pain at top of shoulder. Classic for: AC joint related problem.
O’Brien/Active Compression Test
Deep pain with first motion. Classic for: SLAP lesion. Pain at top of shoulder in second position indicative of AC Joint problem.
Paxino’s Sign/Test
Reproduction of pain. Classic for: AC joint pathology.
Load and Shift
Significant humeral head shift over the fossa either anteriorly or posteriorly. Classic for: Multidirectional instability and/or SLAP Lesion.
Apprehension & Relocation Test(surprise/anterior release)
Apprehension, concern, or resistance. Classic for: Anterior instability of the shoulder. Relocation test-reduction in the apprehension would improve the likelihood ratio of anterior shoulder instability. Surprise test- Apprehension sign upon releasing Relocation Test would also increase likelihood of anterior shoulder instability.
Crank
Clunk, click, shift or pain. Classic for: Labral Tear.
Kim
Clunk or posterior pain. Classic for: SLAP lesion.
Kim II/Biceps Load Test II
Pain during movement. Classic for: SLAP lesion.
Jerk Test
Posterior pain or click during movement. Classic for: SLAP lesion.
Rent
Rent, or divet, felt. Classic for: Severe Rotator Cuff Tear.
Lift-off
Inability to lift hand off back or compensatory movements. Classic for: Subscapularis Tear.
Dugas
Unable to reach across to opposite shoulder or inability to bring elbow down and compress after reaching to opposite shoulder. Classic for: Anterior Dislocation of Shoulder.
Dawbarn’s pushbutton
Reproduction of pain at greater tubercle with a reduction of pain with shoulder abduction. Classic for: Shoulder bursitis
Transverse Humeral Ligament Test
Tendon displaced/popped from groove. Classic for: Biceps Tendinopathy.
AC resisted extension
Reproduction of pain at the top of AC joint. Classic for: AC Joint Related Problem.
Bear Hug
Examiner able to lift patient hand off shoulder. Classic for: Subscapularis Tear.
Belly Press
Posterior movement of elbow or flexion of wrist only and no arm involvement. Classic for: Subscapularis Tear.
Mill’s
Reproduction of pain at insertion point. Classic for: Lateral Epicondylosis.
Cozen’s
Reproduction of symptoms. Classic for: Lateral Epicondylosis.
Moving Valgus
Reproduction of symptoms in ulnar collateral region. Classic for: Ulnar collateral ligament pathology.
Varus Stress (elbow)
Lack of end point, or excessive laxity when compared bilaterally assessing integrity of bone (at 0 degrees) and capsular ligamentous structures (at 30 degrees).
Valgus Stress (elbow)
Lack of end point, or excessive laxity when compared bilaterally assessing integrity of bone (at 0 degrees) and capsular ligamentous structures (at 30 degrees).
Chair / Book Lift Test
Pain, apprehension, clicking, or locking at elbow. Classic for: Posterolateral rotary instability of elbow.
Reverse-Cozen’s
Reproduction of symptoms. Classic for: Medial Epicondylosis.
Maudsley’s
Reproduction of symptoms. Classic for: Lateral Epicondylosis.
Elbow Flexion Test
Reproduction of symptoms. Classic for: Cubital tunnel syndrome.
Tinel’s Sign (elbow)
Reproduction of symptoms. Classic for: Ulnar nerve irritation.
Froment’s sign
Thumb flexes to grip during assessment. Classic for: Ulnar nerve palsy.
Hook
Inability to feel/hook aponeurosis. Classic for: Distal biceps tendon tear and lowered aponeurosis integrity.
Bicipital aponeurosis flex test
Inability to feel/hook aponeurosis. Classic for: Distal biceps tendon tear and lowered aponeurosis integrity.
Posterolateral rotary drawer instability test
Dimpling and pain. Classic for: Instability and subluxation of radial head.
Distal Radial Ulnar Joint (DRUJ) Ballottement AKA Shear test AKA Compression
Click, clunk, shift, or pain. Classic for: Instability of distal radial ulnar joint interosseus ligaments.
Phalen’s and Modified Phalen’s
Reproduction of median nerve symptoms. Classic for: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Reverse Phalen’s
Reproduction of median nerve symptoms. Classic for: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Tinel’s Sign at wrist
Reproduction of median nerve symptoms. Classic for: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Carpal Compression Test
Reproduction of median nerve symptoms. Classic for: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Thumb Grind Test AKA Thumb scour
Crepitus, grinding, and pain. Classic for: Thumb sprain or osetoarthritis of carpometacarpal joint.
Finkelstein’s
Reproduction of symptoms along radial aspect of forearm. Classic for: De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis .
Watson’s scaphoid test
Click or pop. Classic for: Scaphoid instability.
Ulnar Fovea Sign
Intense pain in area. Classic for: Ulnotriquetral injury.
