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Elevated Arm Stress Test
From WikiSM
Other Names
- Roos Stress Test
- Roos Test
- EAST test
- Hands up test
- Roo's Test
- Elevated Arm Stress Test (EAST)
Purpose
- Evaluate for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Description

Demonstration of the elevated arm stress test[1]
- Patient is seated with both arms abducted to 90°, elbows flexed to 90° with hands pointed towards the ceiling
- Patient must open and close hands repeatedly over 3 minute period
- Normal: Muscle fatigue
- Abnormal Results
- Increasing pain progressing down neck and arms
- Parasthesias
- Pallor which resolves when arms brought to rest (arterial)
- Cyanosis and swelling (venous)
- Inability to complete tests
- Reproduction of patient symptoms affecting entire extremity
Pathology
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Equivocal For
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cervical Disc Disease
- Primary shoulder etiology if isolated to shoulder region
Evidence
- Lee et al[2]
- Sensitivity: 84%
- Specificity: 30%
- PPV: 68%
- NPV: 50%
See Also
References
Created by:
John Kiel on 14 July 2019 22:56:09
Authors:
Last edited:
4 April 2023 00:28:29
Category: