Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center

  

Examination Links:

  • Alphabetical Listing
of Examinations
  • Head
  • Cervical Spine
  • Thoracic Spine
  • Lumbar Spine
    • Straight Leg Raise Test
    • Sciatic Nerve Palpation Test
    • Bowstring Test
  • Shoulder
    • Anterior/Posterior Translation
 Test
    • Sulcus Sign
    • Posterior G-H Instability Test
    • Inferior Drawer (Feagin) Test
    • Neer Impingement Test
    • Hawkins Kennedy
Impingement Test
    • Empty Can Test
    • Internal Rotation Strength
Test
    • External Rotation Strength
Test
    • Glenoid Labrum Clunk Test
    • Andrews Anterior Instability
Test
    • Anterior Drawer
    • Posterior Drawer
    • Prone Posterior Instability 
Test
    • Push Pull Test
    • Apprehension Test
    • Fulcrum test
    • Jerk Sign or Jahnke Test
    • Load & Shift Test
    • Acromioclavicular Joint
Stability Test
    • Cross Chest 
(Horizontal Adduction) Test
    • Sternoclavicular Joint 
Integrity Test
    • Speed's Test
    • Gilcrest's Palm-Up test
    • Drop Sign
    • External Rotation Lag Sign
    • Internal Rotation Lag Sign
    • Gerber Lift-Off Test
    • O'Brien Test
    • Yergason Test
    • Biceps Load Test I
    • Biceps Load Test II
    • Winging Scapula Test
    • Adson Maneuver
    • Allen Test
    • Roo's Test
    • Halstead's Test
  • Elbow & Radioulnar
    • Valgus Test 00
    • Valgus Test 300
    • Valgus Test 900
    • Milking Sign
    • Cross Arm Valgus
 Stress Test
    • Varus Test 00
    • Varus Test 300
    • Lateral Compression Test
    • Valgus Extension Overload
    • Cozen Test
    • Mills Test
    • Distal Radioulnar Instability 
Test
  • Wrist
    • Anatomical Snuff Box
Compression Test
    • Phalen's Test or Wrist Press 
Test
    • Tinel Sign
  • Hand & Fingers
    • Murphy's Sign
    • Boutonniere Deformity Test
    • Mallet Finger Test
    • Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
 Test
    • Flexor Digitorum Profundus
 Test
    • Gamekeeper's Thumb Test
    • MCP Radial Collateral 
Ligament Stress Test
    • MCP Ulnar Collateral 
Ligament Stress Test
    • PIP Radial Collateral 
Ligament Stress Test
    • PIP Ulnar Collateral 
Ligament Stress Test
    • DIP Radial Collateral 
Ligament Stress Test
    • DIP Ulnar Collateral 
Ligament Stress Test
    • Bunnel-Littler Test
    • Retinacular Test
    • Allen Test
  • Sacroiliac Joint
    • Ipsilateral Prone Kinetic Test
    • FABER Test
    • Passive Extension & Internal 
Rotation of Ilium on Sacrum
    • Passive Flexion & External 
Rotation of Ilium on Sacrum
    • Passive External Rotation 
of Hip
    • Pelvic Rocking Test
    • Gapping Test
    • Prone Gapping (Hibb's) Test
    • Approximation Test
    • Squish Test
      Sacroiliac Rocking Test
    • Sacral Apex Pressure Test
    • Torsion Stress Test
    • Femoral Shear Test
    • Superoinferior Symphysis
Pubic Stress Test
    • Piedallu's Sign
    • Flamingo Maneuver or Test
    • Gaenslen's Sign
    • Mazion's Pelvic Maneuver
    • Yeoman's Test
    • Sit-up Test
  • Hip & Thigh
    • Scouring (Quandrant) Test
    • FABER Test
    • Trendelenburg Test
    • Craig's Test
    • Torque Test
    • Stinchfield Test
    • Thomas Test
    • Ober Test
    • Pirifomis Test
    • Sign of the Buttock
    • Ely's Test
    • Hamstring Contracture Test 1
    • Tripod Test
    • 90-90 Straight Leg Test
    • Phelp's Test
  • Knee
    • Gravity Sign
    • Active Posterior/Anterior 
Drawer Test
    • Posterolateral Drawer Test
    • Lachman
      • Tradiional
      • Thigh Assisted
      • Drop Leg
      • Table Side
      • Table End
      • Prone
      • Active
    • Posterolateral Drawer Test
    • Figure 4 Palpation
    • McMurray's Test
    • Apley's Grind Test
    • Lateral Compression Test
    • Medial Compression Test
    • Jerk Test of Hughston
    • Pivot Shift Test
    • External Rotation 
Recurvatum Test
    •  
  • Lower Leg
  • Ankle
  • Foot
    • Morton Test
    •  
  • Range of Motion
  • Goniometry
  • Manual Muscle Testing
  • Reflexes
  • Vital Signs
  • Body Composition

 

Anterior Instability Test
Other Names Leffert’s Test
Examination type Joint stability
Patient & Body Segment Positioning The patient will need to be seated and relaxed during the test.
Examiner Position During the test the examiner will be standing behind the shoulder of the patient to be tested.  The examiner will place one hand over the shoulder so that the index finger is over the anterior humeral head and middle finger is over the coracoid with the thumb over the posterior humeral head. The examiner will use the other hand to grasp the patient's wrist.
Performing the Test The examiner will use the hand to grasping the patient’s wrist to abduct and externally rotate the involved shoulder.  The examiner should use the other hand to palpate for any translation of the humeral throughout the test.  Observe the fingers resting on the humeral head for movement forward during the test and for return to starting position after the test as the humeral head slides back into place.
Tissues Being Tested Glenohumeral joint ligaments, anterior deltoid and rotator cuff muscles
Positive Test Observing or palpating the humeral head moving forward and returning to the starting position.
Interpretation Anterior shoulder instability
Common errors in performing exam Improper patient positioning, examiner positioning, or hand placement are common errors. Also, improper movement of the shoulder during the test is a common error.
Factors possibly resulting in misinterpretation Pre-existing joint hyper-mobility
Related tests Anterior Translation Test, Relocation Test, Apprehension Test, Rockwood, Prone anterior instability.
References Magee, David J. (2002). Orthopedic Physical Assessment. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier
Links:

http://www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/physical_exam_for_anterior_instability

http://www.fpnotebook.com/ORT121.htm
MOUSE OVER PICTURE TO VIEW MOVIE