A modified upper limb tension test: An investigation of responses in normal subjects.

One of the modifications of the upper limb neural tissue tension test (Butler 1987) sequences the movements of scapula depression, elbow extension, glenohumeral internal rotation, forearm pronation, wrist and finger flexion or extension and glenohumeral abduction. This test is used in the clinical situation but no normative data have been established. Fifty normal subjects were tested for the normal sensory responses and for the range of glenohumeral abduction in both a wrist and finger flexion and extension position. For both tests, approximately 40 degrees of glenohumeral abduction was available in the final positions. Gender and side tested did not influence results. The test using wrist and finger flexion mainly produced a strong painful stretch over the radial aspect of the proximal forearm and elbow. In contrast no single area was predominant for the test using wrist and finger extension. Knowledge of these normal responses is necessary for clinical decision making of abnormality.