Execution
- 1Position the patient with the elbow flexed to 90° and stabilized against the thorax.
- 2Place the forearm in pronation.
- 3Palpate the biceps tendon in the bicipital groove.
- 4Resist forearm supination while the patient also externally rotates the shoulder against resistance.
- 5Note bicipital groove pain, snapping, or tendon subluxation.
Positive outcome
A palpable or visible pop of the biceps tendon out of the groove suggests transverse humeral ligament / biceps pulley incompetence. Local bicipital groove tenderness without dislocation suggests bicipital paratenonitis or tendinosis rather than SLAP specifically.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holtby & Razmjou (2004) | NA | 43 | 79 | 2.05 | 0.72 |
CommentMagee states that Yergason is primarily a biceps stability / groove test, not a pure SLAP test. It is less effective than Speed’s for biceps tendon pain because the groove moves only slightly over the tendon. Use it for suspected biceps instability or groove tenderness, not to confirm SLAP in isolation.
Moderate Clinical Value