Shoulder Special Tests Review | Expert Physio Top Tips

In this tutorial, we review shoulder special tests and give you our top tips to help you get the most out of your assessment.
References:
*Clark et al., 2019: doi.org/10.26603/ijspt20190345
*Powell and Huijbregts, 2006: doi.org/10.1179/jmt.2006.14.2...
⭐ For more on Shoulder Assessment and Conditions, check out:
*Shoulder Differential Diagnosis Webinar
www.clinicalphysio.com/produc...
*Resisted External and Internal Rotation (Shoulder Resisted Tests)
• Shoulder Resisted Test...
*Scarf Test
• Scarf Test for ACJ | C...
*O’Brien’s Test
• O'Briens Test | Clinic...
*Lift Off Test
• Lift Off Test (Gerber'...
*Drop Arm Test
• Shoulder Drop Arm Test...
*Hawkins and Kennedy
• Hawkins and Kennedy Te...
*External Rotation Lag Test
• Shoulder External Rota...
 
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[@MarkEwen]

I am studying Physiotherapy at University and find your videos really helpful, and easy to understand. Thank you for producing such a great, professional, well produced resource.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You're very welcome! Thank you so much for your kind words Mark!

[@baloyiblessing4840]

Same here, all the stuff I didn't understand in class make much more sense on these videos

[@GeraldTUR]

You rock, and show clearly your good experience with patients.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Very kind of you Gerald! Thank you for your support 🙏🏼

[@nadilaridhaamalia7819]

great video, thanks for your information. I'm looking forward to another great video

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you Nadila!

[@MemeGang420]

This is an excellent video thank you!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@Awareness_With_Dennis]

You are so smart Khalid. Thank you for sharing your knowledge for everyone to learn 🙏

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@user-pl6mh2gj7q]

It's really refreshing ; I've essentially been cluster testing for years (typically 3 at a given time) & similarly, find my self spending very little time testing. My strapline is yes, what is your main problem / 100% agree with you ; additionally, I'm all about symmetry, be it mvt patterns, muscle bulk, ROM. Mvt symmetry, be it for LL or UL functional screen provides so much more - start simple, add load and complexity until the symptom or compromise/compensation surface. Great delivery Khalid, clear , precise and zero waffle. Nice work.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much Marcus! Wishing you all the best and keep up the good work yourself!

[@rkatpar]

Wish I could like this video again, it's so helpful!!!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you Rebecca! Very kind of you 🙏🏼

[@Mado116]

Incredible advice

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much glad you enjoyed it!

[@robingaspard]

As a final year physiotherapist student, your channel is so great!!! Thank you ❤️

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You're so welcome! Thank you so much for watching!

[@jjfitnesselevation3352]

Excellent info! 👍

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@snowboardingchic]

Thank you for these videos! I'm studying to be a physical therapist assistant and they are really helping me study for my board exam and also understanding special tests or different diagnoses.

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You're so welcome Lizzy! Good luck and hope our website resources can also help you!

[@duaaali8426]

Very informative Thank you

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@allissab4915]

Love this!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@unitedtalksportstvmj2083]

Great Video!!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@xavierdaniels9023]

So helpful thank you so much

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You’re very welcome!

[@hashirhashi3490]

Tq for the informative tip sir👌

[@ClinicalPhysio]

You’re very welcome

[@pavithra8397]

Wow really helpful ❤

[@ClinicalPhysio]

I'm so glad! Thank you so much!

[@doudogg]

Great video as always! A couple of questions and points - the acj can refer into the anterolateral shoulder, right? So I tend to use this with any pain that isn't posterior. Thoughts? Also, Hawkins Kennedy is a sensitive test, so it is great to help rule out the shoulder if you're trying to differentiate between neck and shoulder. Again, I'd love your feedback :)

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi! Thank you for your comments! Interesting point about the H+K test in differentiating between neck and shoulder, certainly worth considering and could be an option. We have a full webinar called “Neck vs Shoulder” which takes you through different ways of differentiating if you are interested. For ACJ, I tend to find that you can rule this in or out quite quickly; patients likely to have pain at ACJ subjectively and on Palpation, and tests like scarf are likely to be positive

[@ravikhamarpt4812]

Good Informative

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@maqutami]

thank you so much you help me alot doctor please what is the name of your reference .??

[@romeeteech9094]

thank u sir ❤

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Most welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@fabioluislourenco]

Amazing

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@tiborzkarate1]

I have a question for you because no doctor able to answer for this question; Is the tendon or ligament tier can heal or once ruptures will stay raptured forever? Thank you

[@madihasabir6125]

This is actually patient centred approach

[@ClinicalPhysio]

🙏🏼

[@johnnycroat]

so if i pass the tests does that mean my tears are not as severe? xray ultrasound showed full sub supra tears being asked to go for MRI

[@osteopathiccpdtraining]

Good video

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Thank you so much!

[@Sam-fb3ti]

Hi CP! Great content as always. I was wondering if you know of any research papers (preferably higher quality) that explore the pitfalls with traditional shoulder special tests like H+K, Apprehension, Lift Off, Drop Arm etc etc? I completely agree with your clinical reasoning but I was hoping to find some papers to provide evidence based support. Especially since I am about to go onto another MSK placement, where I feel I m made need to justify my reasoning for not using these tests to me CE/CI. thanks!!!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi Sam! Yes we have a full webinar on this that explores the evidence as well which is called “Clinical Anatomy of Shoulder Special Tests”! It’s available on membership or if you wish head to clinicalphysio.com/on-demand-webinars and you can search it there 😊

[@anshikachadha7631]

Sir plz also make a video on ultrasonic

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Yes certainly

[@Stephend005]

In the same way as hawkins kennedy - would biceps load test 1 and especially 2 just put that shoulder into a position that is generally painful if you had an angry cuff?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Great question Stephen! I suppose that’s the idea - it’s when you combine those 3 tests that it becomes most sensitive … I think the other thing is that SLAP tear subjective signs include Trauma, deep seated ache +/- clunking…. So that’s where the subjective + the tests is important, because I would be reducing suspicion of irritable rotator cuff tendinopathy after significant trauma … hope that makes sense

[@Brolyinsometime]

When I do the scarf test any front and lateral should hurts . I have pain when resisting internal rotation. It's been 6 weeks I have been. Doing rotator cuff exercises . What could be the cause as the pain is still there . I have shown it to a physical therapist and had some dry needling done too . I dropped a 90 pound dumbbell on my shoulder and the pain started after a week. No loss of motion or strength

[@ClinicalPhysio]

I would absolutely suggest that if you are looking for answers that you should organise a physio consultation so you can get assessed specifically for your symptoms

[@vasileiospetropoulos2046]

Great eyxaristo polu

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Parakalo!! 🙏🏼

[@fabuluzchris]

Great.... Quite insightful

[@ClinicalPhysio]

@@fabuluzchris thank you so much!

[@chrisdevox8077]

The O'Brien test doesn't really makes sense in my opinion, as one would expect more pain provocation in external rotation (more bicep load). Is there any evidence on the specificity and sensitivity for the combination of bicep load 1 & 2 without the O'brien? Nonetheless, great video!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Great question Chris! To my knowledge I’m afraid the only one I know is the one mentioned

[@chrisdevox8077]

@@ClinicalPhysio thanks for the swift reply!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

@@chrisdevox8077 🙏🏼

[@azkazaheer2179]

Hi Khalid, Thank you for useful video. I just wanted to ask that is there any possibility that the patient with rotator cuff tendinopathy/tear present with sharp shooting pain along with numbness (mostly started after a few days of pain) ? Or is it most likely the referred pain from cervical spine? Thanks in advance!

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Hi Azka, absolutely you are right that we should consider this to be a Cervical Spine problem first and foremost , consider also thinks like a brachial plexus injury or in worse case scenario an Upper Motor Neuron problem 🙏🏼

[@azkazaheer2179]

@@ClinicalPhysio thanks!

[@jr6590]

what books are on your bookshelf??

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Many!!

[@jr6590]

@@ClinicalPhysio what are some you'd recommend to a SPT?

[@jr6590]

or a few of your favorites

[@mohammedosman1324]

But I heard that now this special test are not that special?

[@ClinicalPhysio]

Correct!!! Hence top tip number 5!!!