Shoulder
Impingement
Evidence: confirmed
Yokum Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Subacromial Impingement.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient places the hand of the affected arm on the opposite shoulder.
- Action: Patient actively lifts the elbow against examiner resistance.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain in the shoulder.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 79%
- Specificity: 40%
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Yokum 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 Yokum Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
