Upper Limb Tension Test
- Examines provocation of neural tissue passing through the thoracic outlet during tensile load
- Sensitive for irritation of cervical roots, brachial plexus and peripheral nerves, and for patients with arm pain syndrome (Wainner et. al., 2003; Mahmud et al., 2006; Quintner, 1989)
- Patient is supine with the arms at the side or on the patient’s abdomen.
- Examiner stands on the tested side
- Examiner depresses the shoulder girdle and abducts the shoulder to 110 degrees with slight extension and elbow flexion to 90 degrees
- The forearm is maximally supinated with the wrists and fingers extended. The elbow is then extended.
- The patient is asked to sidebend their neck to the contralateral side
- The test ends when symptoms are reproduced
- Positive test: reproduction of symptoms with distal movement or neck movement and/or restricted elbow extension ROM
(Hooper et. al., 2010)