Term
| Palpate the patient’s radial pulse on the side that is being tested and the amplitude of the pulse is noted. Ask the patient to rotate the head towards the affected side and then extend the neck. Slightly abduct [up to 150], extends and externally rotates the limb being tested. Ask the patient to take a deep breath and to hold it. Note the effect of this maneuver on the radial pulse. If this action causes the radial pulse to disappear = cervical rib or scalenus anterior type of TOS. |
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Definition
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Term
| Palpate the patient’s radial pulses noting their amplitude. Ask to draw the shoulders backwards and downwards with the neck also flexed as if in a military position. If this action causes the radial pulse to disappear = costoclavicular type of TOS. |
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Definition
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Term
| Palpate the patient’s radial pulse on the affected side. Apply downward traction on the arm and asks the patient to look up. If the radial pulse disappears during traction = scalene anterior sub-type of TOS. |
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Definition
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Term
| Immerse the patient’s fingers in water for three minutes. The skin should wrinkle. If the skin does not wrinkle, this is a positive O’Riain’s sign = loss of sympathetic innervation as in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. |
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Definition
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Term
| Ask the patient to place the palm of the affected extremity on top of the head with the elbow approximately level with the head. If this action exacerbates the pain = scalenus anterior type of TOS. |
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Definition
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Term
| Ask the patient to abduct the arms to 900, bend the elbows also at 900 and open and close the fists repeatedly for up to 3 minutes. If this action reproduces the symptoms = TOS. |
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Definition
| Roos [Elevated Arm Stress Test] |
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Term
| Palpate the patient’s radial pulse on the side being tested. Passively abduct the patient’s arm slowly to 1800 while the pulse is being palpated. Note the angle of abduction at which the pulse disappears. Repeat the maneuver on the other side and compare the two. If this action causes the radial pulse to disappear on one side at a particular angle and it does not do so on the opposite = pectoralis minor type of TOS. |
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Definition
Wright [aka Hyperabduction
Test] |
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