What is Sternum Compression Test?
The sternum compression test signals or indicates rib fracture or rib dislocation or strain in the intercoastal muscles or imapaired vertebral or coastal mobility.
Procedure of Performing Sternum Compression Test
Step 1 – The patient lies in the supine lying position
Step 2 – The examiner exerts light pressure on the sternum with his/her both hands.
When the examiner exerts light pressure on the sternum, the examiner will ask the patient if they feel any pain.
Test Results
If the patient feels pain, when the examiner exerts light pressure on the sternum this indicates a positive sternum compression test.
The reasons of the pain could be due to a
- Rib fracture – Localized pain in the rib cage can be due to the rib fracture.
- Rib subluxation (discolation).
- Strain in the intercoastal muscles.
- Imapaired vertebral or coastal mobility – Pain in the vicinity of the sternum or vertebra indicates impaired vertebral or coastal mobility.
You May Also Read
Rib Test
Rib Compression Test – Indicates impaired costosternal or costovertebral joint or a rib fracture.
Sacroiliac Joint Tests
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.
Standing Flexion Test/ Standing Forward Flexion Test – To assess sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Cervical Tests
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).
Spurling Test – For Diagnosing Cervical Radiculopathy.
Cervical Distraction Test – To detect the presence of cervical radiculopathy.
Soto Hall Test – For Detecting Problem in Patient’s Neck (Cervical Spine).
Some other Tests
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.
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.
