Speeds Test
Original Editor - Tyler Shultz
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Purpose
The Speed's Test is named for Dr. James Spencer Speed who experienced pain in his anterior shoulder with performing a straight leg raise.[1] Dr. Albert Crenshaw and Dr. William Kilgore gave the credit to Dr. Speed in their 1966 paper on diagnosing bicipital tenosynovitis.[1] Speed's Test is primarily known as a test to diagnose bicipital tendonitis but can be utilized to diagnose superior labral tears (SLAP).
Technique
Originally, Dr. Speed felt this pain from performing active shoulder flexion with the forearm in supination while lifting someone's leg while assessing someone with a straight leg raise test.
How to perform the Speed's Test:
- Can have the subject sitting or standing
- Place the person's shoulder into flexion at roughly 90 degrees, elbow at full extension and forearm in supination.
- Apply a downward pressure on the forearm area.
The test is considered to be positive if pain in the bicipital tendon or bicipital groove is reproduced. [2]
Speed Test video provided by Clinically Relevant
Evidence
In a research study looking at comparing a group of special tests for SLAP lesions to an MRA (the gold standard in diagnosing).[4] The tests utilized were the Biceps Load I, Biceps Load II, Speed's Test, Passive Compression Test, and O'Brien's Test which have the highest overall values. The MRA was found to have a specificity between 65-98% and specificity of 80% to 100%, which the combination of all tests were found to have both a specificity and sensitivity of 99%. Speed's Test had a sensitivity range of 18-90% and specificity range of 14-87%.
One study did look at a series of tests to detect partial bicep tendon tears in people with shoulder pain.[5] An examination was performed on 847 people undergoing an arthroscopic surgery on their shoulder which 5% (40) were found to have a partial biceps tear. The Speed's Test was found to have a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 67%.
| Sensitivity | 0.32 |
| Specificity | 0.75 |
| Positive Likelihood Ratio | 1.28 |
| Negative Likelihood Ratio | 0.91 |
Test Item Cluster: The Speed's Test is often combined with the Yergason's Test to detect bicipital tendonitis.
See test diagnostics page for explanation of statistics.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Crenshaw, A. H., & Kilgore, W. E. (1966) as a way to diagnose bicipital tenosynovitis. Surgical treatment of bicipital tenosynovitis. JBJS, 48(8), 1496-1502
- ↑ Dutton, M. (2008). Orthopaedic: Examination, evaluation, and intervention (2nd ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
- ↑ Clinically Relevant. Speed's Test ⎟ Biceps Pathology. https://members.physio-pedia.com/techniques/examination-techniques/?test=147
- ↑ Clark, R. C., Chandler, C. C., Fuqua, A. C., Glymph, K. N., Lambert, G. C., & Rigney, K. J. (2019). Use of clinical test clusters versus advanced imaging studies in the management of patients with a suspected slap tear. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 14(3), 345
- ↑ Gill, H. S., El Rassi, G., Bahk, M. S., Castillo, R. C., & McFarland, E. G. (2007). Physical examination for partial tears of the biceps tendon. The American journal of sports medicine, 35(8), 1334-1340
- ↑ Holtby, R., Razmjou, H. (2004). Accuracy of the Speed's and Yergason's test in detecting bicpes pathology and SLAP lesions: comparison with arthroscopic findings. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, 20(3), 231-236