biceps brachii, biceps pathology, biceps tendon, biceps tendonitis, bicipital groove, glenohumeral joint, long head of biceps brachii, ortho, pain, shoulder, SLAP lesion, special test, superior labral tear

Purpose

This test is used to identify biceps tendonitis, lesion to the long head of the biceps brachii, or a superior labral tear (SLAP lesion).

Technique

Patient is positioned in sitting.

Clinician asks the patient to supinate the forearm and elevate the arm to about 90° of shoulder flexion.

Clinician asks the patient to resist further shoulder flexion and applies resistance at the distal forearm.

To confirm biceps pathology, the Clinician asks the patient to resist elbow flexion in 3 positions.

Positive

Production of pain in the biceps tendon or bicipital groove.

Interpretation

A positive test indicates biceps tendonitis. Production of pain in the bicipital groove or deep pain in the shoulder with resisted forward flexion of the shoulder suggests a SLAP lesion.

References

1. Dutton, M. (2008). Orthopaedic: Examination, evaluation, and intervention (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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