SPECIAL TESTS SHOULDER
Most of us therapists don’t have access to imaging so we have to perform what’s known as ‘Special Tests’ to hypothesise what we believe your injury/condition may be.
This requires us to put your limbs in various positions and apply pressure/force to discover areas of pain/discomfort.
An example of a couple of these tests :-
- Shoulder Impingement Test: This test helps identify any impingement in the shoulder joint. It involves raising your arm to the side and overhead, observing for any pain or discomfort. Remember, pain during this test may indicate an impingement issue. We can think about impingement as a ‘pinching’.
- Empty Can Test: This test targets the supraspinatus muscle, one of the rotator cuff muscles. Stand with your arms bent and thumbs pointing downward, like you're holding cans. Now, try to resist downward pressure on your arms. If you experience pain or weakness, it could be a sign of supraspinatus tendinitis or tear.
- Apprehension Test: This test assesses shoulder instability. Lie on your back, and with your arm at a 90-degree angle, rotate it externally. If you feel a sense of "apprehension" or your shoulder feels like it's going to dislocate, it might indicate instability. Remember, these tests are not meant to replace contacting a professional.
These are just a couple of the numerous tests we can perform when assessing injury.
Keep in mind that proper warm-up, stretching, and strengthening exercises are essential for maintaining shoulder health. When I have conducted a shoulder session I will generally demonstrate some banded exercise work and give the client a band to take away.
This is the most common Injury I see in clinic due to the large ROM at this joint.