Execution
- 1Position the patient sitting or standing.
- 2Flex the shoulder to approximately 90°.
- 3Horizontally adduct the arm across the body as far as possible.
- 4Also ask the patient to actively reach the hand toward the opposite shoulder.
- 5Record whether pain is localized at the AC joint or elsewhere.
Positive outcome
Localized pain over the acromioclavicular joint is positive. Pain at the sternoclavicular joint indicates that the sternoclavicular joint may be the source instead.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronopoulos et al. (2004) | NA | 77 | 79 | 3.67 | 0.29 |
| Walton et al. (2004) | NA | 77 | 26 | 1.04 | 0.88 |
CommentCross-body adduction is easy and clinically useful for symptom localisation, but specificity varies greatly across studies. Local AC pain matters more than general superior shoulder discomfort. It is stronger inside an AC cluster than as an isolated test.
Moderate Clinical Value