NPTE Special Tests 121 Questions with Verified Answers
Apprehension Test for Anterior Shoulder Dislocation - CORRECT ANSWER
Purpose: increased likelihood of anterior shoulder dislocation
Method: *PROM* Pt in supine, shoulder in 90 degrees abduct. PT externally
rotates shoulder.
Positive Test: look of apprehension or facial grimace before reaching end point.
Capillary refill - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Test for vascular insufficiency
Method: Pt. is positioned in sitting or standing. Therapist compresses the pt's
nailbed after releasing the pressure notes the amount of time taken for color to
return to the nail.
Positive Test: Indicated by delayed or muted response (greater than 2 secs) and
may be indicative of arterial insufficiency.
Homan's - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Test for Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis
Method: Pt. is positioned in supine. Therapists maintains the leg in ext and
passively D/F the pt's foot.
Positive: Indicated by pain in the calf and may indicate a DVT.
Ely's test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Indicative of rectus femurs contracture
Method: Pt. is positioned in prone, while the therapist *passively* flexes the pt's
knee.
Positive Test: Indicated by spontaneous hip flexion occurring simultaneously with
knee flex
Codman's Drop Arm Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose:
,-test for tears of rotator cuff (esp. supraspinatus)
Method:
-Patient seated or standing
-You abduct the patient's arm to 150 degrees
-Release pt's arms and ask him/her to slowly lower the arms to the floor.
Positive Test:
-pain, weakness or ratcheting motions
-patient can't hold arms up or lower with control
*dropping to 90 degrees is controlled by the deltoid
*dropping below 90 degrees is controlled by the supraspinatus
Apprehension Test for Posterior Shoulder Dislocation - CORRECT ANSWER
Purpose: increased likelihood of posterior shoulder dislocation
Method: Pt in supine, shoulder flexed to 90 degrees and internally rotated. PT
applies posterior force.
Positive Test: look of apprehension or facial grimace before reaching end point.
Ludington's Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Biceps tendon pathology
Method: Pt is in sitting with hand behind head and fingers interlocked. Pt then
alternately contracts and relaxes the biceps.
Positive Test: Absence of movement in the biceps tendon.
Yergason's Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Biceps tendon pathology
Method: Pt is sitting with 90 degrees elbow flexion & pronation. PT places one
hand over the pt's forearm and one over the pt's bicipital groove. Pt is instructed
supinate and laterally rotate against resistance.
Positive Test: pain or tenderness in the bicipital groove.
, Allen Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Method: Pt in sitting or standing, with should in 90 abduction & lateral rotation,
elbow flexed. Pt is asked to rotate head away from test shoulder and PT monitors
radial pulse.
Positive Test: Absent or diminished pulse.
Costoclavicular Syndrome Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Thoracic Outlet
Syndrome caused by compression of subclavian artery between first rib and
clavicle.
Method: Pt is in sitting, and PT monitors radial pulse as pt moves into military
posture (retracted and depressed scapula. PT moves shoulder into extension).
Positive Test: Absent or diminished pulse.
Roos Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Method: Pt is sitting or standing with shoulder abducted to 90 degrees, externally
rotated, and elbow flexed. Pt opens and closes hands for 3 minutes.
Positive Test: Inability to maintain test position, weakness of arms, sensory loss,
or ischemic pain.
Wright Test (Hyperabduction Test) - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Thoracic Outlet
Syndrome due to compression in the costoclavicular space.
Method: Pt is sitting or supine. PT moves pt's UE overhead into abduction while
monitoring pulse.
Positive Test: Absent or diminished radial pulse.
Glenoid Labrum Tear Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Glenoid Labrum Tear
Method: Pt in supine. PT places one hand over posterior humeral head and the
other hand stabilizes the humerus proximal to the elbow. PT moves shoulder into
Apprehension Test for Anterior Shoulder Dislocation - CORRECT ANSWER
Purpose: increased likelihood of anterior shoulder dislocation
Method: *PROM* Pt in supine, shoulder in 90 degrees abduct. PT externally
rotates shoulder.
Positive Test: look of apprehension or facial grimace before reaching end point.
Capillary refill - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Test for vascular insufficiency
Method: Pt. is positioned in sitting or standing. Therapist compresses the pt's
nailbed after releasing the pressure notes the amount of time taken for color to
return to the nail.
Positive Test: Indicated by delayed or muted response (greater than 2 secs) and
may be indicative of arterial insufficiency.
Homan's - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Test for Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis
Method: Pt. is positioned in supine. Therapists maintains the leg in ext and
passively D/F the pt's foot.
Positive: Indicated by pain in the calf and may indicate a DVT.
Ely's test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Indicative of rectus femurs contracture
Method: Pt. is positioned in prone, while the therapist *passively* flexes the pt's
knee.
Positive Test: Indicated by spontaneous hip flexion occurring simultaneously with
knee flex
Codman's Drop Arm Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose:
,-test for tears of rotator cuff (esp. supraspinatus)
Method:
-Patient seated or standing
-You abduct the patient's arm to 150 degrees
-Release pt's arms and ask him/her to slowly lower the arms to the floor.
Positive Test:
-pain, weakness or ratcheting motions
-patient can't hold arms up or lower with control
*dropping to 90 degrees is controlled by the deltoid
*dropping below 90 degrees is controlled by the supraspinatus
Apprehension Test for Posterior Shoulder Dislocation - CORRECT ANSWER
Purpose: increased likelihood of posterior shoulder dislocation
Method: Pt in supine, shoulder flexed to 90 degrees and internally rotated. PT
applies posterior force.
Positive Test: look of apprehension or facial grimace before reaching end point.
Ludington's Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Biceps tendon pathology
Method: Pt is in sitting with hand behind head and fingers interlocked. Pt then
alternately contracts and relaxes the biceps.
Positive Test: Absence of movement in the biceps tendon.
Yergason's Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Biceps tendon pathology
Method: Pt is sitting with 90 degrees elbow flexion & pronation. PT places one
hand over the pt's forearm and one over the pt's bicipital groove. Pt is instructed
supinate and laterally rotate against resistance.
Positive Test: pain or tenderness in the bicipital groove.
, Allen Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Method: Pt in sitting or standing, with should in 90 abduction & lateral rotation,
elbow flexed. Pt is asked to rotate head away from test shoulder and PT monitors
radial pulse.
Positive Test: Absent or diminished pulse.
Costoclavicular Syndrome Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Thoracic Outlet
Syndrome caused by compression of subclavian artery between first rib and
clavicle.
Method: Pt is in sitting, and PT monitors radial pulse as pt moves into military
posture (retracted and depressed scapula. PT moves shoulder into extension).
Positive Test: Absent or diminished pulse.
Roos Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Method: Pt is sitting or standing with shoulder abducted to 90 degrees, externally
rotated, and elbow flexed. Pt opens and closes hands for 3 minutes.
Positive Test: Inability to maintain test position, weakness of arms, sensory loss,
or ischemic pain.
Wright Test (Hyperabduction Test) - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Thoracic Outlet
Syndrome due to compression in the costoclavicular space.
Method: Pt is sitting or supine. PT moves pt's UE overhead into abduction while
monitoring pulse.
Positive Test: Absent or diminished radial pulse.
Glenoid Labrum Tear Test - CORRECT ANSWER Purpose: Glenoid Labrum Tear
Method: Pt in supine. PT places one hand over posterior humeral head and the
other hand stabilizes the humerus proximal to the elbow. PT moves shoulder into
