Department of Emergency Medicine

UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Orthopedics

Title: Anterior shoulder pain

Keywords: Shoulder, biceps, tendon (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/28/2020 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 4/25/2024)
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD

A 25 year old athlete presents to the ED with right anterior shoulder pain.

Pain radiates into proximal biceps.

It is worse with heavy lifting and especially “pulling” exercises at the gym.

 

How do we evaluate for biceps tendonitis?

  1. Tenderness to palpation in the bicipital groove
  2. Speed’s test
  3. Yergason’s test

 

Pathology is often the long head of the biceps

https://physioworks.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/biceps-tendonitis.jpg

Start by palpating this area and attempt to reproduce the discomfort

Speed’s test

 

Yergason’s test

  • Arm is placed to patient’s side, in pronation and flexed to 90 degrees at elbow
  • Patient attempts to supinate and externally rotate arm against resistance
  • https://youtu.be/rQ2Mp6aSi88

 

 


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