NPTE 2026: Special Tests | UPDATED Questions with 100% Verified
Answers
Question: Yergason's Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: bicipital paratenonitis/tendinosis, integrity of transverse ligament TEST: elbow flexed to 90* and
stabilized against the thorax and forearm pronated. Resist supination of forearm and external rotation of
shoulder + TEST: Tendon of Long Head Biceps Brachii will pop out of the groove. Tenderness in the bicipital
groove without dislocation may indicate bicipital paratenonitis/tendinosis
Question: Speed's Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: bicipital tendinosis/tendinopathy TEST: UE in full extension and forearm supinated and resist
shoulder flexion ; OR place shoulder in 90* flexion and push upper limb into extension + TEST: pain in LH
biceps tendon or increased tenderness in the bicipital groove
,Question: Neer's Impingement Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: impingement of supraspinatus and biceps tendon TEST: passively and forcibly fully elevate UE
in the scapular plane with UE in IR causing the greater tuberosity to jam against the anteroinferior border of the
acromion + TEST: reproduces symptoms of shoulder pain
Question: Ludington's Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: biceps tendon pathology/rupture TEST: sitting, pt clasps both hands behind the head with the
fingers interlocked and is asked to alternately contract and relax the biceps muscle +TEST: absence of
movement in the biceps tendon
Question: Empty Can/ Jobe test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: tear/impingement of supraspinatus tendon or suprascapular nerve neuropathy TEST: arm
abducted to 90* with no rotation and resist abduction; then IR shoulder and angle forward 30* (thumb pointed
down in POS) and resist abduction (empty can position) + TEST: reproduces pain in supraspinatus tendon or
weakness in empty can position
,Question: Drop Arm Test/Codman's Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: tear/full rupture of rotator cuff TEST: passively abduct shoulder to 90* and ask patient to slowly
lower the arm to the side in the same arc of movement + TEST: unable to return the arm to the side slowly or
severe pain when attempting to do so
Question: Posterior Internal Impingement Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: impingement between rotator cuff and greater tuberosity OR posterior glenoid and labrum
TEST: supine position, passively abduct shoulder to 90*-110* with 15-20* extension and max ER + TEST:
reproduction of pain in posterior shoulder
Question: Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: sub-acromial impingement, supraspinatus paratenonitis/tendinosis TEST: passively flex UE to
90* in the POS, upper arm is stabilized and forearm is forced into IR + TEST: pain
Question: Yocum Test/ Yocum Maneuver
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: sub-acromial impingement, supraspinatus paratenonitis/tendinosis TEST: Patient adducts arm
and flexes elbow to place hand on contralat shoulder. Then they try to raise elbow w/out lifting the hand or
shoulder. + TEST: pain at subacromial arch
Question: Scapular Assistance Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: subacromial impingement OR weakness of SA, LT, UT TEST: First the patient should perform
shoulder flexion to the point of pain or physical limitation and the examiner should measure AROM if
abnormal, noting action of the Scapula. Reset position to neutral, examiner then assists with upward rotation of
scapula during arm elevation/shoulder flexion by placing one hand over clavicle and superior scapula to
, stabilize, while using the other hand to push on inferior angle of the scapula. If there is difference between the
two, test will be positive. + TEST: Decreased pain or greater available ROM; indicates strengthening scapular
stabilizers will be appropriate for patient
Question: Horn Blower's Sign/Patte Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: teres minor tear TEST: UE is supported at 90* abduction in the POS with the elbow flexed to
90*, rotate the forearm externally against resistance + TEST: unable to ER the shoulder in this position
Question: Active Compression Test of O'Brien
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: SLAP (Type 2) or superior labral lesions TEST: UE in 90* flexion, 10* horizontal adduction and
max IR and elbow extended and pt resists a downward force applied at the distal arm; repeat test with the UE in
maximum ER + TEST: joint line pain or painful clicking is produced inside the shoulder during the 1st part of
the test and pain is eliminated/decreased in the 2nd part of the test
Question: Biceps Load Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: superior labrum- SLAP lesions TEST: supine or seated with shoulder abducted to 120* and ER
with elbow flexed to 90* and forearm supinated; passively take arm into full ER (apprehension test); if
apprehension appears, stop ER and hold position then patient is asked to flex the elbow against the examiner's
resistance at the wrist + TEST: apprehension remains the same or the shoulder becomes more painful
Question: Lateral Rotation Lag Sign/Infraspinatus spring back test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: teres minor and infraspinatus injury/tear TEST: arm at side with 90* elbow flexion and passively
abduct arm to 90* in the POS and ER the shoulder to end range and ask the patient to hold it + TEST: patient
cannot hold the position and hand springs back anteriorly toward midline
Answers
Question: Yergason's Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: bicipital paratenonitis/tendinosis, integrity of transverse ligament TEST: elbow flexed to 90* and
stabilized against the thorax and forearm pronated. Resist supination of forearm and external rotation of
shoulder + TEST: Tendon of Long Head Biceps Brachii will pop out of the groove. Tenderness in the bicipital
groove without dislocation may indicate bicipital paratenonitis/tendinosis
Question: Speed's Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: bicipital tendinosis/tendinopathy TEST: UE in full extension and forearm supinated and resist
shoulder flexion ; OR place shoulder in 90* flexion and push upper limb into extension + TEST: pain in LH
biceps tendon or increased tenderness in the bicipital groove
,Question: Neer's Impingement Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: impingement of supraspinatus and biceps tendon TEST: passively and forcibly fully elevate UE
in the scapular plane with UE in IR causing the greater tuberosity to jam against the anteroinferior border of the
acromion + TEST: reproduces symptoms of shoulder pain
Question: Ludington's Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: biceps tendon pathology/rupture TEST: sitting, pt clasps both hands behind the head with the
fingers interlocked and is asked to alternately contract and relax the biceps muscle +TEST: absence of
movement in the biceps tendon
Question: Empty Can/ Jobe test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: tear/impingement of supraspinatus tendon or suprascapular nerve neuropathy TEST: arm
abducted to 90* with no rotation and resist abduction; then IR shoulder and angle forward 30* (thumb pointed
down in POS) and resist abduction (empty can position) + TEST: reproduces pain in supraspinatus tendon or
weakness in empty can position
,Question: Drop Arm Test/Codman's Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: tear/full rupture of rotator cuff TEST: passively abduct shoulder to 90* and ask patient to slowly
lower the arm to the side in the same arc of movement + TEST: unable to return the arm to the side slowly or
severe pain when attempting to do so
Question: Posterior Internal Impingement Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: impingement between rotator cuff and greater tuberosity OR posterior glenoid and labrum
TEST: supine position, passively abduct shoulder to 90*-110* with 15-20* extension and max ER + TEST:
reproduction of pain in posterior shoulder
Question: Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: sub-acromial impingement, supraspinatus paratenonitis/tendinosis TEST: passively flex UE to
90* in the POS, upper arm is stabilized and forearm is forced into IR + TEST: pain
Question: Yocum Test/ Yocum Maneuver
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: sub-acromial impingement, supraspinatus paratenonitis/tendinosis TEST: Patient adducts arm
and flexes elbow to place hand on contralat shoulder. Then they try to raise elbow w/out lifting the hand or
shoulder. + TEST: pain at subacromial arch
Question: Scapular Assistance Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: subacromial impingement OR weakness of SA, LT, UT TEST: First the patient should perform
shoulder flexion to the point of pain or physical limitation and the examiner should measure AROM if
abnormal, noting action of the Scapula. Reset position to neutral, examiner then assists with upward rotation of
scapula during arm elevation/shoulder flexion by placing one hand over clavicle and superior scapula to
, stabilize, while using the other hand to push on inferior angle of the scapula. If there is difference between the
two, test will be positive. + TEST: Decreased pain or greater available ROM; indicates strengthening scapular
stabilizers will be appropriate for patient
Question: Horn Blower's Sign/Patte Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: teres minor tear TEST: UE is supported at 90* abduction in the POS with the elbow flexed to
90*, rotate the forearm externally against resistance + TEST: unable to ER the shoulder in this position
Question: Active Compression Test of O'Brien
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: SLAP (Type 2) or superior labral lesions TEST: UE in 90* flexion, 10* horizontal adduction and
max IR and elbow extended and pt resists a downward force applied at the distal arm; repeat test with the UE in
maximum ER + TEST: joint line pain or painful clicking is produced inside the shoulder during the 1st part of
the test and pain is eliminated/decreased in the 2nd part of the test
Question: Biceps Load Test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: superior labrum- SLAP lesions TEST: supine or seated with shoulder abducted to 120* and ER
with elbow flexed to 90* and forearm supinated; passively take arm into full ER (apprehension test); if
apprehension appears, stop ER and hold position then patient is asked to flex the elbow against the examiner's
resistance at the wrist + TEST: apprehension remains the same or the shoulder becomes more painful
Question: Lateral Rotation Lag Sign/Infraspinatus spring back test
Answer:
DIAGNOSIS: teres minor and infraspinatus injury/tear TEST: arm at side with 90* elbow flexion and passively
abduct arm to 90* in the POS and ER the shoulder to end range and ask the patient to hold it + TEST: patient
cannot hold the position and hand springs back anteriorly toward midline
