ORTHOPEDIC TEST FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026
TESTED ITEMS SOLVED
◉ Bakody's Sign. Answer: *Purpose.*
To assess for cervical radiculopathy at the levels of C4-C6.
*Positive Test.*
decrease in pain is a positive test
*Technique.*
place the patient's hand on top of his/her head.
◉ Rust's Sign. Answer:
◉ Tinel's tapping. Answer:
◉ Spurling's Test/foraminal compression test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Cervical radiculopathy (brachial plexus injury).
*Positive Test.*
Reproduction of pain on affected side.
,*Technique.*
Laterally flex the head to unaffected side. Apply an axial
compression force through the top of the head. Repeat on affected
side.
◉ Apprehension & Relocation Test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Anterior GHJ injury (RTC).
*Positive Test.*
Patient apprehension.
*Technique.*
Flex the patient's elbow to 90 degrees. Abduct patient's shoulder to
90 degrees. Apply shoulder external rotation force.
◉ Sulcus Sign. Answer: *Purpose.*
Superior GH ligament and coracohumeral ligament injury (RTC).
*Positive Test.*
Visualization of depression formation between the lateral acromion
and head of humerus.
,*Technique.*
Apply downward force at elbow while arm is in a neutral resting
position at patient's side.
◉ Empty Can (Jobe) Test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Supraspinatus injury (RTC).
*Positive Test.*
Pain or weakness with resistance.
*Technique.*
Arm in 90 degrees abduction in scapular plane, elbow extended, full
internal rotation, pronation of forearm. Stabilize shoulder while
applying a downwardly directed force to arm while patient resists.
◉ Drop Arm Test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Supraspinatus injury (RTC).
*Positive Test.*
Pain, arm suddenly drops.
*Technique.*
, Abduct arm to 90 degrees. Support arm at elbow. Release elbow
support.
◉ Lift-off (Gerber's) Test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Subscapularis injury (RTC injury).
*Positive Test.*
Inability to lift hand off back.
*Technique.*
Affected arm brought into maximal internal rotation behind back
(dorsum of hand against lumbar region).
◉ Resisted External Rotation. Answer: *Purpose.*
Infraspinatus and teres minor injury.
*Positive Test.*
Pain.
*Technique.*
Arm in 90 degrees of shoulder abduction with neutral rotation.
Elbow in 70 degrees of flexion. Examiner resists supination while
passively externally rotating arm.
TESTED ITEMS SOLVED
◉ Bakody's Sign. Answer: *Purpose.*
To assess for cervical radiculopathy at the levels of C4-C6.
*Positive Test.*
decrease in pain is a positive test
*Technique.*
place the patient's hand on top of his/her head.
◉ Rust's Sign. Answer:
◉ Tinel's tapping. Answer:
◉ Spurling's Test/foraminal compression test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Cervical radiculopathy (brachial plexus injury).
*Positive Test.*
Reproduction of pain on affected side.
,*Technique.*
Laterally flex the head to unaffected side. Apply an axial
compression force through the top of the head. Repeat on affected
side.
◉ Apprehension & Relocation Test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Anterior GHJ injury (RTC).
*Positive Test.*
Patient apprehension.
*Technique.*
Flex the patient's elbow to 90 degrees. Abduct patient's shoulder to
90 degrees. Apply shoulder external rotation force.
◉ Sulcus Sign. Answer: *Purpose.*
Superior GH ligament and coracohumeral ligament injury (RTC).
*Positive Test.*
Visualization of depression formation between the lateral acromion
and head of humerus.
,*Technique.*
Apply downward force at elbow while arm is in a neutral resting
position at patient's side.
◉ Empty Can (Jobe) Test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Supraspinatus injury (RTC).
*Positive Test.*
Pain or weakness with resistance.
*Technique.*
Arm in 90 degrees abduction in scapular plane, elbow extended, full
internal rotation, pronation of forearm. Stabilize shoulder while
applying a downwardly directed force to arm while patient resists.
◉ Drop Arm Test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Supraspinatus injury (RTC).
*Positive Test.*
Pain, arm suddenly drops.
*Technique.*
, Abduct arm to 90 degrees. Support arm at elbow. Release elbow
support.
◉ Lift-off (Gerber's) Test. Answer: *Purpose.*
Subscapularis injury (RTC injury).
*Positive Test.*
Inability to lift hand off back.
*Technique.*
Affected arm brought into maximal internal rotation behind back
(dorsum of hand against lumbar region).
◉ Resisted External Rotation. Answer: *Purpose.*
Infraspinatus and teres minor injury.
*Positive Test.*
Pain.
*Technique.*
Arm in 90 degrees of shoulder abduction with neutral rotation.
Elbow in 70 degrees of flexion. Examiner resists supination while
passively externally rotating arm.
