External Rotation Lag Sign (ERLS) Test
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Original Editor - User Name
Top Contributors - Alan Jit Ho Mak, Amanda Ager, Kim Jackson, Anas Mohamed and Jonathan Wong
Purpose[edit | edit source]
To assess tears of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle (part of the rotator cuff). Also tests for shoulder impingement.
Description[edit | edit source]
1. The patient is seated and the elbow is passively flexed to 90 degrees while the shoulder is held at 20 degrees elevation in the scapular plane in a position of near maximum external rotation (i.e., maximum external rotation minus five degrees to avoid elastic recoil).
2. The examiner supports the elbow and holds the arm in external rotation at the wrist.
3. The patient is asked to hold the position while the examiner supports the elbow but releases the hold at the wrist.
4. The degree of movement is estivated and is referred to as the “lag” (i.e., the difference between active and passive ROM).
Technique[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
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