What is the Forced Adduction Test on the hanging Arm?
The forced adduction test on the hanging arm is the modified version of the forced adduction test. Therefore, this test also assesses the shoulder joint pathology (acromioclavicular joint disease) or subacromial impingement.
Now the question arises why there is a need to modify the forced adduction test.
As a modification of the forced adduction test gives us one more option to check for the acromioclavicular joint pathology or subacromial impingement.
Now let’s discuss the procedure of performing the forced adduction test on the hanging arm.
The procedure of Performing the Forced Adduction Test on the Hanging Arm
Position of the examiner – The examiner stands behind the patient.
Position of the patient – The patient stands in front of the examiner.
- The examiner grasps or holds the upper arm of the affected side with one hand.
- While the other hand rests on the contralateral (opposite side) shoulder and immobilizes the shoulder girdle.
- The examiner then asks the patient to abduct the hanging arm posteriorly behind his back.
- The examiner then forcibly adducts (applies force against the patient’s resistance) the hanging affected arm behind the patient’s back against the patient’s resistance.
Test Results
Pain across the anterior side of the shoulder indicates acromioclavicular joint disease or subacromial impingement.
Symptoms that improve or disappear following injection of an anaesthetic indicate that the acromioclavicular joint is causing the pain.
You May Also Read
Nerve Root Disorder Test
Duchenne Sign – Used to assess a nerve root disorder.
Thomsen Sign – Indicates or signals sciatic nerve root irritation.
Tiptoe and Heel Walking Test – Identifies or pinpoints a nerve root disorder in the lumbar spine.
Sacroiliac Joint Tests
Mennell’s Sign / Mennell’s Test – Used to assess degenerative processes in the sacroiliac joint.
Springing Test – To detect functional impairment in the Thoracic & Lumbar spine & Sacroiliac Joint.
Gaenslen’s Test – To detect any pathology or dysfunction around the sacroiliac joint.
Test/ Standing Forward Flexion Test – To assess sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Thoracic Spine Test
Ott Sign – For Measuring the ROM of the Thoracic Spine
Cervical Exams
Cervical Flexion Compression Test – To identify if there is a Herniated disk in the Cervical spine.
Jackson Compression Test – To Detect Cervical Radiculopathy (Cervical Nerve Root Compression).
Pelvic Ligament Tests – used for the assessment of the pelvic ligaments.
Supported Forward Bend Test (Belt Test) – helps in differentiating lumbar pain and sacroiliac pain.
Noble Compression Test/Noble Test – To assess pain coming from iliotibial band syndrome.
Neer Test – For detecting the presence of shoulder impingement syndrome.
Some Other Test
Subscapularis Test – Indicates the rupture of the subscapularis muscle
Lowenberg Test – For Detecting Early sign of Venous Thrombosis
Infraspinatus Test – Identify symptoms of tendinitis or tears of the infraspinatus muscle or tendon.
Resources
Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal System: Examinations-Signs-Phenomena by K. Buckup
Hello Friends,
My self Ritvik Verma and I am a Physiotherapist and the founder of www.physio-study.com. I completed my bachelor’s of physiotherapy from Integral University Lucknow and an internship at KMC Hospital Meerut.
Then I worked in the Physiotherapy Department of Lovee Shubh Hospital (Lucknow) for one year. Then I joined Holistic Touch Physical Therapy & Wellness Clinic and worked there for more than six months.
I am running my clinic and writing blogs on my website, www.physio-study.com, in my hometown, Lakhimpur Kheri.
