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Special Tests Outline

Special Tests Outline

Yasmeen awawdehJuly 12, 20267 views

Upper Extremity

Shoulder

Dislocation

  • Apprehension test for anterior shoulder dislocation
  • Apprehension test for posterior shoulder dislocation
  • Sulcus sign

Biceps Tendon Pathology

  • Ludington's test
  • Speed's test
  • Yergason's test

Rotator Cuff Pathology/Impingement

  • Drop arm test
  • Hawkins-Kennedy impingement test
  • Infraspinatus test
  • Lateral rotation lag sign
  • Lift off sign (medial rotation)
  • Neer impingement test
  • Supine impingement test
  • Supraspinatus test

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

  • Adson maneuver
  • Allen test
  • Costoclavicular syndrome test
  • Roos test
  • Wright test (hyperabduction test)

Miscellaneous

  • Acromioclavicular crossover test
  • Active compression test (O'Brien's test)
  • Glenoid labrum tear test
  • Jerk test
  • Upper limb tension tests

Elbow

Ligamentous Instability

  • Valgus stress test
  • Varus stress test

Epicondylitis

  • Cozen's test
  • Lateral epicondylitis test (Maudsley's test)
  • Medial epicondylitis test
  • Mill's test

Neurological Dysfunction

  • Elbow flexion test
  • Pinch grip test
  • Tinel's sign

Wrist/Hand

Ligamentous Instability

  • Ulnar collateral ligament instability test

Vascular Insufficiency

  • Allen test
  • Capillary refill test

Contracture/Tightness

  • Bunnel-Littler test
  • Tight retinacular ligament test

Neurological Dysfunction

  • Carpal compression test (median nerve compression test)
  • Froment's sign
  • Phalen's test
  • Tinel's sign

Miscellaneous

  • Finkelstein test
  • Grind test
  • Murphy sign

Lower Extremity

Hip

Contracture/Tightness

  • Ely's test
  • Ober's test
  • Piriformis test
  • Thomas test
  • Tripod sign
  • 90-90 straight leg raise test

Pediatric Tests

  • Barlow's test
  • Ortolani's test

Miscellaneous

  • Anterior labral tear test
  • Craig's test
  • Patrick's test (FABER test)
  • Quadrant scouring test
  • Trendelenburg test

Knee

Ligamentous Instability

  • Anterior drawer test
  • Lachman test
  • Lateral pivot shift test
  • Posterior drawer test
  • Posterior sag sign
  • Slocum test
  • Valgus stress test
  • Varus stress test

Meniscal Pathology

  • Apley's compression test
  • Bounce home test
  • McMurray test
  • Thessaly test

Swelling

  • Brush test
  • Patellar tap test

Miscellaneous

  • Clarke's sign
  • Hughston's plica test
  • Noble compression test
  • Patellar apprehension test

Ankle

Ligamentous Instability

  • Anterior drawer test
  • Lateral rotation stress test (Kleiger test)
  • Talar tilt test

Miscellaneous

  • Homans' sign
  • Thompson test
  • Tibial torsion test
  • True leg length discrepancy test

Spine

Cervical Region

  • Cervical flexion rotation test
  • Distraction test
  • Foraminal compression test
  • Vertebral artery test

Lumbar/Sacroiliac Region

  • Gaenslen's test
  • Sacral thrust test
  • Sacroiliac compression test
  • Sacroiliac distraction test
  • Slump test
  • Straight leg raise test
  • Thigh thrust test
Last updated: July 13, 2026 at 07:48 AM