Upper Limb Tension Tests (ULTTs)

Purpose:

To test for the presence of cervical radiculopathy

Description:

The patient is supine. The examiner performs the following movement sequence:

• Scapular depression
• Shoulder abduction
• Forearm supination, wrist and finger extension
• Shoulder lateral elevation
• Elbow extension
• Contralateral/ipsilateral cervical side bending

Positive Test:

The test is positive ifone of moreof the following occurs:

• Symptoms reproduced
• Side to side difference in elbowe extension greater than 10 degrees
• Contralateral cervical side bending increases symptoms, or ipsilateral side bending decreases symptoms

Diagnostic Accuracy:

Reference standard cervical radiculopathy as diagnosed by needle electromyography and nerve conduction studies.

Sensitivity= .50

Specificity= .86

-LR= .58

+LR= 3.5

Reliability:

Inter-examiner Kappa= .76