The athlete will
be sitting with their back straight, on a chair or stool, with their
back to the examiner.
Patient clasps both
hands on top of the head, allowing the interlocking fingers to
support the weight of the upper limbs. This allows the maximum
relaxation of biceps tendon.
Examiner Position
The examiner
will be standing facing the athlete’s back.
Examiner palpates the biceps tendon.
Tissues
Being Tested
Long Head of the Biceps Tendon
Performing the Test
The athlete will
contracts their biceps muscles by pushing down on their head. The
examiner will still be palpating the long head tendon of the biceps
feeling for tension on the tendon. The test should be performed
bilaterally for comparison.
Positive Test
Inability to feel tendon indicates a long head of biceps tendon
rupture. If there is no
tension or decreased tension on the tendon of the involved side,
this is a positive test for a rupture of the long head of the
biceps.
Interpretation
Detachment of the
long head of the biceps from the lip of the gleniod fossa
Common errors in
performing exam
Not testing
bilaterally; failure to palpate at the insertion of the biceps
tendon (not understanding where the biceps tendon inserts)
Factors possibly
resulting in misinterpretation
Athlete may not
be contracting biceps on the involved side due to malingering or
failure to understand the instructions of the examiner.
Related tests
Palpation of the
long head of the biceps, visual inspection, ROM testing of the shoulder
and elbow
References
Starkey, Chad. Ryan,
Jeff. Evaluation of Orthopedic and Athletic Injuries. Copyright
2002. F. A. Davis Company. 2nd Edition. Pg 479.