Shoulder
Bear hug test
- What you examine
- Tear of the upper portion of subscapularis.
- Procedure
- Place the hand of the affected side on the opposite shoulder with the elbow forward. Try to lift the hand off the shoulder while the patient holds it there.
- Positive when
- The hand lifts off the shoulder, or the patient holds it clearly less well than on the other side.
- What the test is worth
- Sensitivity around 0.60 and specificity around 0.92 for a subscapularis tear; the most sensitive of the subscapularis tests for the upper portion.
- Caution
- The lift-off test mainly examines the lower portion of the same muscle. Do both: a tear usually starts at the top.
- Body region
- Shoulder