Execution
- 1Position the patient sitting or standing.
- 2Ask the patient to elevate the shoulder with the arm slightly abducted.
- 3Add resisted shoulder abduction and resisted ipsilateral head side flexion.
- 4Apply downward resistance to the shoulder while controlling head and trunk substitution.
- 5Observe strength, pain, scapular elevation, and side-to-side asymmetry.
Positive outcome
Weakness or inability to elevate the shoulder against resistance is abnormal. Magee cautions that if elevation is tested with the arm by the side, levator scapulae and rhomboids may contribute more strongly and reduce isolation of upper trapezius.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunnstrom (1941) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
CommentThis is an impairment-level manual muscle test. It should be interpreted with accessory nerve screening, scapular resting position, cervical symptoms, and comparison with the opposite side. No diagnostic-accuracy data were located in Magee for this specific segmental trapezius test.