SHOULDER ASSESSMENT PART 16: SULCUS SIGN FOR INFERIOR SHOULDER INSTABILITY With the Sulcus Sign you are able to assess inferior shoulder instability. By longitudinal traction directly above the elbow, you will be able to (sub)luxate the patient's instable shoulder and see a "sulcus" under the roof of the acromion, where the humeral head shoulder normally sit. #Shoulderassessment #Shoulderinstability | Physiotutors

The Sulcus Test is used to assess the glenohumeral joint for inferior instability, due to laxity of the superior glenohumeral ligament and coracohumeral ligament. The test is considered positive when a sulcus sign is seen when the examiner applies a downward force applied at the elbow while the arm in neutral rotation and resting at the patient's side. A sulcus is defined as a depression greater than a fingerbreadth between the lateral acromion and the head of the humerus. (text taken from Physi

Sulcus Sign Here's a great example of a test for congenital laxity of the shoulder, the Sulcus Sign. Pretty simple to perform. I'll also use my finger to measure the gap and get a sense of the amount of laxity. You can perform this on the other arm for someone postoperative to get a general sense of their mobility. Want to learn more about shoulder rehab? Head here to check out my free online course on the keys to the evaluation and treatment of the shoulder: https://mikereinold.com/keys-shoulde

SULCUS SIGN FOR INFERIOR SHOULDER INSTABILITY With the Sulcus Sign, you are able to assess inferior shoulder instability. By longitudinal traction directly above the elbow, you will be able to (sub)luxate the patient's unstable shoulder and see a "sulcus" under the roof of the acromion, where the humeral head shoulder normally sits. P.S. There are no studies that have evaluated the tests' diagnostic accuracy to our knowledge | Physiotutors