Concurrent Criterion-Related Validity of Acromioclavicular Joint Physical Examination Tests: A Systematic Review

This recent article was published as an online-only, open access supplement to the last issue of the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy and systematically reviews the available research on concurrent, criterion-related validity of physical examination tests for the diagnosis of acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dysfunction.  The review concludes that the currently available best research evidence supports the inclusion of a number of tests with a specific interpretation in a physical examination format for the diagnosis of painful ACJ dysfunction:

- A negative find on the cross-body adduction test, tenderness on palpation of the ACJ, and the Paxinos sign may serve to rule out a painful ACJ dysfunction

- A positive finding on the active compression test, the cross-body adduction test, and the acromioclavicular resisted extension test may serve to rule in a painful ACJ dysfunction

- A positive finding on all three tests for the cross-body adduction, active compression, and resisted acromioclavicular extension may be relevant when the physical therapist is considering a medical-surgical referral and associated higher-risk interventions.

Future research is obviously necessary to examine the results of these tests in combination with other historical and physical examination findings, but this is a good start.  The full text article can be accessed at:
http://jmmtonline.com/documents/PowellV14N2E.pdf.  Additional full-text open-access material has been added to the last two volumes of the journal and can be accessed by way of the past issues link on the journal home page: http://jmmtonline.com/.

By the way, join AAOMPT for a very reasonable annual rate and you get the journal as part of your subscription.  So, if you're not a member, join what will be the fastest growing PT professional association for years to come!  You can say that you were a member during its infancy!  Of course, don't forget about APTA. That should be a given.

John