Shoulder
Shoulder apprehension test
- What you examine
- Anterior instability of the glenohumeral joint.
- Procedure
- Supine, arm at 90 degrees of abduction. Slowly bring the shoulder into external rotation.
- Positive when
- Fear of the shoulder coming out (not just pain). If that fear disappears with pressure from the front, the relocation test is positive too.
- What the test is worth
- Apprehension plus relocation together have a high specificity for anterior instability.
- Caution
- Stop at the first sign of apprehension; pushing through can provoke a dislocation.
- Body region
- Shoulder