November’s Five Assessment Assistant
Diagnosing SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) Tears
What?
Cochrane Review of studies investigation Physical examination of SLAP lesions.
Who?
Following review 15 studies were included.
Results!
Speed’s test and Yergason’s test had sensitivity of 32% and 43%, and specificity of 79% and 75%.
When?
SLAP tears often occur following
- Dislocation
- Fall ona n outstretched arm
- Throwing injury
- Catching something heavy
- Foreceful movement to an elevated arm such as during MVA
So…
The accuracy of both Speeds and Yergason’s test were both decidedly poor despite them being the more accurate in the catalgoue of tests. The combined sensitivity is especially poor and so if suspecting a SLAP tear during an injury such as one of those listed above imaging may be necessary.
Michael Rafla
Physiotherapist
Australian Sports Physiotherapy
Ivanhoe, Heidelberg, Coburg, Northcote, Carlton North
1300651256
0431 271 714
Karlsson J. Physical examination tests are not valid for diagnosing SLAP tears: a review. Clin J Sport Med. 2010 Mar;20(2):134-5. doi: 10.1097/01.jsm. 0000369406.54312.0b. PMID:20215902.
