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Stenvers Test V: Posterior Capsule of the Glenohumeral Joint

Posterior glenohumeral capsule with AC / SC contribution

Source: Physiotutors

Execution

  1. 1Position the patient in upright sitting and stand behind the tested shoulder.
  2. 2Ask the patient to abduct the shoulder to 90° and flex the elbow to 90°.
  3. 3Support the patient’s elbow with one hand and fix the scapula by gripping the lateral border with the other hand.
  4. 4Move the patient’s arm into maximal horizontal adduction while maintaining scapular fixation.
  5. 5Release the scapular fixation at end range and assess whether additional horizontal adduction occurs.

Positive outcome

Restriction before roughly 100° of horizontal adduction with the scapula fixed suggests reduced glenohumeral posterior capsule mobility. After fixation is released, the shoulder should normally gain about another 20° of horizontal adduction; failure to gain this movement suggests restriction elsewhere in the shoulder girdle such as AC / SC or scapulothoracic contribution.

CommentThis is a segmental mobility test rather than a validated diagnostic special test. Magee separately describes posterior capsule testing in supine with scapular stabilization, which is biomechanically similar but not labelled as Stenvers V in the searchable text. Interpret the result with passive internal rotation and horizontal adduction findings.

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