Execution:
- The patient is holding two dumbbells of 1.4kg/3lbs if he weighs less than 68.1kg/150lbs or 2.3kg/5lbs if he weighs ≥68.1/150lbs
- The patient is asked to perform 5 repetitions of bilateral flexion followed by 5 repetitions of bilateral abduction in the frontal plane with straight elbows and at a cadence of 3 seconds
- The examiner observes for winging and/or dysrhythmia
Positive Outcome:
- Either:
- Winging: Posterior displacement of the medial border and/or inferior angle away from the thorax
- And/or dysryhthmia: Premature or excessive elevation or protraction, non-smooth stuttering motion during arm elevation or lowering and/or rapid downward rotation during arm lowering is observed
- Both sides are rated as:
- Normal
- Subtle: mild or questionable evidence of abnormality, not consistently present
- Obvious: striking, clearly apparent abnormality evident on at least 3 out of 5 trials with dysrhythmias or winging of at least 1cm or greater displacement of the scapula away from the thorax
- Combination of both flexion and abduction:
- Normal: Both flexion and abduction rated as normal or one normal and one subtle
- Subtle: Both flexion and abduction rated as subtle
- Severe: Either flexion or abduction or both rated as obvious
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR- |
| McClure et al. (2009) | Inter К= 0.48-0.61 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
