Execution
- 1Ask the patient to stand in front of a table with the symptomatic arm over the table’s lateral edge and the elbow extended.
- 2Ask the patient to perform the down phase of a push-up with the elbow pointing laterally and the forearm maintained in supination.
- 3Watch for pain or apprehension near approximately 40° of elbow flexion.
- 4Repeat the down movement while pushing the radial head with the thumb to stabilize it.
- 5Remove the stabilizing thumb and note whether symptoms return.
Positive outcome
Pain and apprehension during the unsupported down phase are positive if they are relieved when the examiner stabilizes the radial head. Return of pain and apprehension when the thumb is removed strengthens the finding for posterolateral rotatory instability.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvind & Hargreaves (2006) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Regan & Lapner (2006) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
CommentMagee describes tabletop relocation as an active functional variant that reproduces symptoms under a provocative push-up load and then relieves them with radial-head stabilization. The named tabletop relocation publication is a small clinical description, so diagnostic certainty is limited. Use it when classic pivot shift is too difficult or guarded.
Low Clinical Value