Physical Exam

Yergason Sign

also known as Yergason's test

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Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

With the patient's elbow flexed to 90° and the forearm pronated, ask the patient to supinate the forearm against your resistance while you palpate the bicipital groove. A positive test is pain in the bicipital groove.

How to Interpret

Biceps Tendinopathy or SLAP Lesion

Positive Yergason sign

Rule in

Somewhat helpful

Rule out

—

Evidence:Limited

Biceps Tendinopathy or Transverse Humeral Ligament Rupture

Positive Yergason sign

Rule in

Somewhat helpful

Rule out

Minimally helpful

Evidence:Strong

References

Bélanger V, Dupuis F, Leblond J, Roy JS. Accuracy of examination of the long head of the biceps tendon in the clinical setting: a systematic review. J Rehabil Med. 2019;51(7). doi:10.2340/16501977-2563. PMID: 31243466.
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 pooling of positive likelihood ratios for SLAP clinical tests evaluated in >=3 studies. Yergason's test: pooled LR+ 2.29 (95% CI 1.21-4.33), n=308 -- the only test with a statistically significant rule-in LR+ (DARE NBK76518). Corroborated by Hegedus 2012 (PMID 22773322; best specificity 95% for SLAP) and Gismervik 2017 (PMID 28122541; LR+ 2.50). Univariate LR pooling (secondary tabulation) -> Limited.]
Yergason RM. Supination sign. J Bone Joint Surg. 1931;13:160.