Shoulder
Instability
Evidence: suggestive
Feagin Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Inferior Instability (Multidirectional).
How to Perform
- Position: Patient stands with arm abducted 90° resting on the examiner's shoulder.
- Action: Examiner clasps hands over the proximal humerus and pushes it down and forward.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Apprehension on the patient's face or a visible sulcus.
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Feagin 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 Feagin Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
