Stenvers Test IV: Thoracic Mobility (C7-T4)

Execution:

  1. The patient is in sitting position with a straight back
  2. The examiner palpates C7 and places their finger contralateral to the tested shoulder next to the spinous process
  3. The patient is asked to actively flex the shoulder maximally
  4. Repeat the process and move the palpating hand downwards per segment until the process is repeated for all vertebraes from C7 until T4

 

Positive Outcome: The examiner does not feel any rotation of the spinous process of C7-T4 against their palpating fingers from 160° until full anteflexion, which usually occurs in a adequately mobile upper thoracic spine

Study Reliability Sn Sp LR+

LR-

Baertschi et al. ( 2013)

Inter к= 0.84

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