UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) Testing

Keywords: shoulder, overhead athlete (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/13/2019 by Brian Corwell, MD
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Long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) Testing

Overhead activities can cause anterior shoulder pain due to LHBT instability. A review of 3 physical exam maneuvers for bedside evaluation.

Speed test

Shoulder at 90° of flexion with arm fully supinated and elbow extended

Patient attempts to fwd. elevate arm against a downward force

Positive test is pain localized to bicipital groove.

Sensitivity 54% and specificity 81% for biceps pathology

https://youtu.be/N00gA4Pvsbw

Yergason test

Elbow at 90° of flexion with arm fully pronated and held against thoracic wall. Examiner grips patient’s hand and resists attempts at supination.

Positive test is pain localized to bicipital groove or LHBT subluxation.

Sensitivity 41% and specificity 79% for biceps pathology

https://youtu.be/_ot2S75mZ3o

Upper Cut test

Shoulder neutral with Elbow at 90° of flexion, arm fully supinated and hand in a fist. Patient moves hand toward chin in an uppercut motion like a boxer. Examiner places hand over patient’s fist and resists upward movement.

Positive test is pain localized to bicipital groove or LHBT subluxation.

Sensitivity 73%, specificity 78%, +LR 3.38 for biceps pathology

https://youtu.be/EE-WhlWFZvk

References

Comprehensive Examination of the Shoulder. Cotter et al., 2018. Sports Health