Stretch Test

Brachial Plexus Special Test

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Technique

• Patient is positioned in sitting or standing¹
• Ask patient to:
  • Raise the ipsilateral arm¹
  • Then to contraolateral head side bend¹
• Pt in sitting/standing and asked to raise arm on involved side and then side bend to uninvolved side¹

Grading

• Positive test: Pain + paresthesia along the involved arm¹
  • Interpretation: Indicative of a brachial plexus irritation¹

Video Resources

References

1.

Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.