Physical examination maneuver

Physical Exam

Speed Test

🎬
Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

With the patient's shoulder flexed to about 90°, the elbow fully extended, and the forearm supinated (palm up), apply a downward force to the forearm while the patient resists. A positive test is pain in the bicipital groove.

How to Interpret

Showing all 1 finding

Biceps Tendinopathy or SLAP Lesion

Positive Speed test
Rule in
Not helpful
Rule out
Not helpful
Evidence:Limited

References

  • Walton DM, Sadi J. Identifying SLAP lesions: a meta-analysis of clinical tests and exercise in clinical reasoning. Phys Ther Sport. 2008;9(4):167-176. PMID: 19083717. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2008.07.001. [Systematic review with meta-analysis; random-effects univariate pooling of positive likelihood ratios for SLAP tests evaluated in >=3 studies. Speed test: pooled LR+ 1.12 (95% CI 0.78-1.61), n=353 -- NOT statistically significant (CI crosses 1). Corroborated by Hegedus 2012 (PMID 22773322; Speed/SLAP non-significant), Gismervik 2017 (PMID 28122541), and Dean 2023 (PMID 35997579; Speed pooled across 8 studies). Univariate LR pooling (secondary tabulation) -> Limited; CI crosses 1 -> not helpful.]
  • Crenshaw AH, Kilgore WE. Surgical treatment of bicipital tenosynovitis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1966;48(8):1496-1502.

Related Systems / Regions

MusculoskeletalUpper Extremities

Related Bedside Tests

🎬Video coming Sept 2026
Yergason Sign
aka Yergason's test
Rule in:SHBiceps Tendinopathy or SLAP Lesion, SHBiceps Tendinopathy or Transverse Humeral Ligament Rupture
Rule out:MHBiceps Tendinopathy or Transverse Humeral Ligament Rupture
🎬Video coming Sept 2026
Shoulder Palpation
Rule in:MHBiceps Tendinopathy (Long Head of Biceps), IERotator Cuff Disorder
Rule out:SHAcromioclavicular Joint Pathology, IERotator Cuff Disorder
🎬Video coming Sept 2026
Cross-body Adduction Test
aka Scarf test
Rule in:IEAcromioclavicular Joint Pathology
Rule out:IEAcromioclavicular Joint Pathology
🎬Video coming Sept 2026
Drop Arm Test
aka Codman's test
Rule in:SHSubacromial Impingement, NHSupraspinatus Tendinopathy
Rule out:NHSupraspinatus Tendinopathy
🎬Video coming Sept 2026
Empty Can Test
aka Jobe's test
Rule in:SHSupraspinatus Tear, MHSubacromial Impingement, NHSupraspinatus Tendinopathy
Rule out:SHSubacromial Impingement, MHSupraspinatus Tear, NHSupraspinatus Tendinopathy
🎬Video coming Sept 2026
Hawkins Impingement Sign
aka Hawkins-Kennedy test
Rule in:MHSubacromial Impingement, NHSupraspinatus Tendinopathy, IERotator Cuff Tendinopathy +1 more
Rule out:SHSubacromial Impingement, NHSupraspinatus Tendinopathy, IERotator Cuff Tendinopathy +1 more