Shoulder
Labral Injuries
Evidence: suggestive
Anterior Slide Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing SLAP Lesions (Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior).
How to Perform
- Position: Patient stands with hands on hips, thumbs pointing backward.
- Action: Examiner stabilizes the scapula and applies an anterior-superior force at the elbow (pushing the humerus up and forward).
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain, click, or pop in the anterior shoulder.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 78%
- Specificity: 91%
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Anterior Slide Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Shoulder region, combining the Anterior Slide Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
