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Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center

Examination Links:

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Alphabetical Listing
of Examinations
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Head

Cervical Spine

Thoracic Spine

Lumbar Spine

Shoulder

Elbow & Radioulnar

Wrist

Hand & Fingers

Sacroiliac Joint

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Ipsilateral Prone Kinetic Test
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FABER Test
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Passive Extension & Internal 
Rotation of Ilium on Sacrum

Passive Flexion & External 
Rotation of Ilium on Sacrum

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Passive External Rotation 
of Hip
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Pelvic Rocking Test
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Gapping Test
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Prone Gapping (Hibb's) Test
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Approximation Test
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Squish Test
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Sacroiliac Rocking Test
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Sacral Apex Pressure Test
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Torsion Stress Test
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Femoral Shear Test
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Superoinferior Symphysis
Pubic Stress Test

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Piedallu's Sign
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Flamingo Maneuver or Test
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Gaenslen's Sign
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Mazion's Pelvic Maneuver
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Yeoman's Test
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Sit-up Test
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Hip & Thigh

Knee

Lower Leg

Ankle

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Foot
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Morton Test
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Range of Motion
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Goniometry
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Manual Muscle Testing
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Reflexes
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Vital Signs
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Body Composition
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Allen’s Test for the Hand

Examination type

Vascular integrity

Patient & Body Segment Positioning

Patient is seated with hand elevated and forearm supinated with the palm exposed.

Examiner Position

Examiner stands or sits in from of the patient’s hand. Examiner will place the thumb of one hand over the patient’s radial artery, and the thumb of the other hand over the ulnar artery.

Performing the Test

The patient will make a fist and open & close the fist quickly several times then make a fist, squeeze tightly, and hold. The examiner then places one thumb on the patient’s radial artery and the other thumb on the ulnar artery while pressing both tightly. The patient will then relax the hand with the palm up in clear sight. The hand will be pale or “blanched.” The examiner will then remove the thumb over one artery and monitor how long it takes for the palm to flush into a pink color. The hand should flush quickly on the side that has been released. Repeat the entire test on the other artery of the same hand to determine how long the palm takes to flush.

Tissues Being Tested

Radial and Ulnar arteries

Positive Test

Absence of flushing; very slow return of blood to palm

Interpretation

If the palm flushes slowly, the artery being tested is partially or completely occluded. If the hand doesn’t return to normal color, then there is a problem with the blood flow in that artery.

Common errors in performing exam

The examiner may release both arteries simultaneously instead of performing the test twice and releasing only one artery each time.

Factors possibly resulting in misinterpretation

The patient’s hand/palm color may vary; examiner may not apply enough pressure to the arteries.

Related tests

Digit Blood Flow, Hand Volume Test

References

Husum B, Berthelsen P. Allen's test and systolic arterial pressure in the thumb. Br J Anaesth 1981; 53(6): 635-7.

Magee, David J. (2002). Orthopedic Physical Assessment. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier

http://www.frca.co.uk/article.aspx?articleid=335

Links:

http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/-1073348608.htm

http://www.fpnotebook.com/CV105.htm

http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/tu6483.asp

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/medical/allen_test.htm

http://rnbob.tripod.com/allenstest.htm

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