Shoulder
Labral Injuries
Evidence: suggestive
Compression-Rotation Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing SLAP or Bankart lesions.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient supine, arm abducted 90°, elbow 90°.
- Action: Examiner applies an axial load (compresses humerus into glenoid) while rotating the arm internally and externally (like grinding a pestle in a mortar).
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Snapping, catching, or pain.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 24%
- Specificity: 76%
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Compression-Rotation Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Shoulder region, combining the Compression-Rotation Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
