Codman’s Test

What is the Codman’s Test?

The Codman’s test examines passive movement in the shoulder. The codman’s test is also known as the codman’s sign.

The procedure of Performing the Codman’s Test or Codman’s Sign

Position of the examiner – The examiner stands behind the patient.

Position of the patient – The patient will be in a sitting position.

• As the examiner stands behind the patient and puts his or her hands on the patient’s shoulder so that the examiner’s thumb immobilizes the patient’s scapula slightly below the scapular line.
• As the examiner’s index finger rests on the anterior margin of the acromion towards the tip of the coracoid process, and the remaining fingers extend anteriorly past or beyond the acromion.
• Now after that, the examiner, with his other hand, moves the patient’s arm in every direction.

Test Result of Codman’s Test

The examiner who examines the body notes any sign of crepitation in the glenohumeral joint. They also note snapping sensations (such as dislocations of the long head of the biceps tendon) or restricted motion.

The most crucial bony pressure points, like the coracoid process, greater and lesser tubercle of the humerus and acromioclavicular & sternoclavicular joints are evaluated for tenderness to palpation. Joint stability and pain in the rotator cuff’s tendons are also evaluated by palpation.

The range of motion is determined by using the neutral zero method. Both active and passive ranges of motion are determined, as are the area of occurrence and a particular localization of the symptoms.

Restricted movement in all (every) direction indicates the presence of a “frozen shoulder“.

In the early stages of a rotator cuff tear, only active motion is restricted and passive movement remains normal. Advanced impingement syndrome or a chronic tear can show the universally restricted movement of a frozen shoulder.

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Sacroiliac Joint Tests

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Springing Test – To detect functional impairment in the Thoracic & Lumbar spine & Sacroiliac Joint.

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Thoracic Spine Test 

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Cervical Exams

Cervical Flexion Compression Test –  To identify if there is a Herniated disk in the Cervical spine.

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Some Other Test

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Forced Adduction Test on Hanging Arm – This test also assesses the shoulder joint pathology (acromioclavicular joint disease) or subacromial impingement.

Infraspinatus Test – Identify symptoms of tendinitis or tears of the infraspinatus muscle or tendon.

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Resources

Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal System: Examinations-Signs-Phenomena by K. Buckup