MSK SPECIAL TESTS | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & EXAM
REVIEW 2026/2027
Yorgason’s test - ANS ✔✔1) Tests for integrity of transverse ligament; may also ID bicipital
tendinosis/tendinopathy
2) Pt seated with shoulder in neutral, stabilized against trunk; elbow at 90d; forearm pronated
Resist supination and ER
3) Tendon of biceps long head will "pop out" of bicipital groove; may also reproduce pain in long
head of biceps tendon
Speed's test (biceps straight arm) - ANS ✔✔1) ID's bicipital tendonosis/tendonopathy
2) Pt sitting or standing with UE in full ext and forearm supinated, resists shoulder flexion
Alternative: Shoulder in 90d flex and resist extension
3) Reproduces symptoms (pain) in long head of biceps
Neer's test - ANS ✔✔1) Impingement of soft tissue structures of shoulder (long head of
biceps/supraspinatus tendon)
2) Sitting, shoulder passively internally rotated and fully *abducted
3) Reproduction of shoulder pain
Empty can test - ANS ✔✔1) ID's tear and/or impingement of supraspinatus tendon or possible
suprascapular nerve palsy
2) Sitting, shoulder at 90d scaption* and thumb down.
3) Pain/weakness in empty can position
Drop arm test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs tear/full rupture of rotator cuff
2) Sitting; shoulder passively abducted to *120d. PT instructed to slowly lower arm to side (PT
guards to prevent sudden drop/injury)
,3) Unable to control descent to side
Clunk test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs glenoid labrum tear
2) Pt supine, abduct shoulder while applying an anterior mobilization.
3) Audible clunk is heard
Posterior internal impingement test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs impingement between rotator cuff and
greater tuberosity or posterior glenoid and labrum
2) Pt supine; moves shoulder into 90d abd, max ER, and ***15-20d hor add
3) Reproduction of posterior shoulder pain
Anterior apprehension sign - ANS ✔✔1) IDs past history of anterior shoulder dislocation
2) Pt supine, shoulder in 90d abd; slowly taken into ER (may add fulcrum if initially negative)
3) Pt grimaces, etc.
Posterior apprehension sign - ANS ✔✔1) IDs past history of posterior shoulder dislocation
2)** Start in 90* of abd, then move shoulder in hor add. and IR
3) Pt grimaces, etc
Acromioclavicular shear test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs dysfunction of AC joint (arthritis, separation, etc)
2) Pt sitting with arms resting at side. PT squeezes spine of scapula and clavicle together with
both hands, compressing AC joint
3) Pain reproduction at AC
Adson's test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs pathology of structures that pass through thoracic inlet
2) Pt sitting; find radial pulse of test arm; rotate head toward test arm, then extend and ER
shoulder while extending head
, 3) Neuro/vascular symptoms (disappearance of pulse) reproduced (hold one minute)
Costoclavicular syndrome (military brace) test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs pathology of structures that pass
through thoracic inlet
2) Pt sitting; find radial pulse of test arm; move involved shoulder down and back
3) Neuro/vascular symptoms (disappearance of pulse) reproduced (hold one minute)
Wright test - ANS ✔✔1) aka, hyperabduction test; IDs pathology of structures that pass through
thoracic inlet
2) Pt sitting; find radial pulse of test arm; move shoulder into maximal abduction and ER. Taking
deep breath and rotating head opposite to side being tested may accentuate symptoms
3) Neuro/vascular symptoms (disappearance of pulse) reproduced (hold one minute)
Roo's test - ANS ✔✔1) aka, elevated arm test; IDs pathology of structures that pass through
thoracic inlet
2) Pt standing, shoulders fully ER, 90d abd, and slight hor abd. Elbows flexed to 90d and pt
opens/closes hands for 3 minutes slowly
3) Neuro/vascular symptoms (disappearance of pulse) reproduced (hold one minute)
ULTT1: Median and Ant IO nerves - ANS ✔✔Shoulder: depression and 110d* abd
Elbow: extended
Forearm: supinated
Wrist: extended
Fingers and thumb: extended
C-Spine: Contralateral sidebend
ULTT2: Median, axillary, and musculocutaneous - ANS ✔✔Shoulder: depression and 10d abd
with ER
REVIEW 2026/2027
Yorgason’s test - ANS ✔✔1) Tests for integrity of transverse ligament; may also ID bicipital
tendinosis/tendinopathy
2) Pt seated with shoulder in neutral, stabilized against trunk; elbow at 90d; forearm pronated
Resist supination and ER
3) Tendon of biceps long head will "pop out" of bicipital groove; may also reproduce pain in long
head of biceps tendon
Speed's test (biceps straight arm) - ANS ✔✔1) ID's bicipital tendonosis/tendonopathy
2) Pt sitting or standing with UE in full ext and forearm supinated, resists shoulder flexion
Alternative: Shoulder in 90d flex and resist extension
3) Reproduces symptoms (pain) in long head of biceps
Neer's test - ANS ✔✔1) Impingement of soft tissue structures of shoulder (long head of
biceps/supraspinatus tendon)
2) Sitting, shoulder passively internally rotated and fully *abducted
3) Reproduction of shoulder pain
Empty can test - ANS ✔✔1) ID's tear and/or impingement of supraspinatus tendon or possible
suprascapular nerve palsy
2) Sitting, shoulder at 90d scaption* and thumb down.
3) Pain/weakness in empty can position
Drop arm test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs tear/full rupture of rotator cuff
2) Sitting; shoulder passively abducted to *120d. PT instructed to slowly lower arm to side (PT
guards to prevent sudden drop/injury)
,3) Unable to control descent to side
Clunk test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs glenoid labrum tear
2) Pt supine, abduct shoulder while applying an anterior mobilization.
3) Audible clunk is heard
Posterior internal impingement test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs impingement between rotator cuff and
greater tuberosity or posterior glenoid and labrum
2) Pt supine; moves shoulder into 90d abd, max ER, and ***15-20d hor add
3) Reproduction of posterior shoulder pain
Anterior apprehension sign - ANS ✔✔1) IDs past history of anterior shoulder dislocation
2) Pt supine, shoulder in 90d abd; slowly taken into ER (may add fulcrum if initially negative)
3) Pt grimaces, etc.
Posterior apprehension sign - ANS ✔✔1) IDs past history of posterior shoulder dislocation
2)** Start in 90* of abd, then move shoulder in hor add. and IR
3) Pt grimaces, etc
Acromioclavicular shear test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs dysfunction of AC joint (arthritis, separation, etc)
2) Pt sitting with arms resting at side. PT squeezes spine of scapula and clavicle together with
both hands, compressing AC joint
3) Pain reproduction at AC
Adson's test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs pathology of structures that pass through thoracic inlet
2) Pt sitting; find radial pulse of test arm; rotate head toward test arm, then extend and ER
shoulder while extending head
, 3) Neuro/vascular symptoms (disappearance of pulse) reproduced (hold one minute)
Costoclavicular syndrome (military brace) test - ANS ✔✔1) IDs pathology of structures that pass
through thoracic inlet
2) Pt sitting; find radial pulse of test arm; move involved shoulder down and back
3) Neuro/vascular symptoms (disappearance of pulse) reproduced (hold one minute)
Wright test - ANS ✔✔1) aka, hyperabduction test; IDs pathology of structures that pass through
thoracic inlet
2) Pt sitting; find radial pulse of test arm; move shoulder into maximal abduction and ER. Taking
deep breath and rotating head opposite to side being tested may accentuate symptoms
3) Neuro/vascular symptoms (disappearance of pulse) reproduced (hold one minute)
Roo's test - ANS ✔✔1) aka, elevated arm test; IDs pathology of structures that pass through
thoracic inlet
2) Pt standing, shoulders fully ER, 90d abd, and slight hor abd. Elbows flexed to 90d and pt
opens/closes hands for 3 minutes slowly
3) Neuro/vascular symptoms (disappearance of pulse) reproduced (hold one minute)
ULTT1: Median and Ant IO nerves - ANS ✔✔Shoulder: depression and 110d* abd
Elbow: extended
Forearm: supinated
Wrist: extended
Fingers and thumb: extended
C-Spine: Contralateral sidebend
ULTT2: Median, axillary, and musculocutaneous - ANS ✔✔Shoulder: depression and 10d abd
with ER
