Principle Investigator: Maurie Steinley, PT, MS Study Design: Quasi-experimental. Objectives: 1) To determine if the high diagnostic values found in original research for the Active Compression Test and the Pain Provocative Test are reproduced, 2) Examine the two labral tests, which show good promise of being accurate clinical examination procedures, in a comparison to identify subtle quantifiable differences in the tests, and 3) Examine the Pain Provocative Test in a broader patient population and determine if it maintains high diagnostic values for labral tears. Background: In original research, the Active Compression Test and Pain Provocative Test demonstrated high levels of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values for diagnosing SLAP lesions in the shoulder. Methods and Measures: The two tests were performed on 53 patients (two bilateral for a total of 55 shoulders) who subsequently underwent a shoulder surgical procedure and/or a magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA). The results of the physical examination were compared with the surgical and/or MRA findings and analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Results: A total of 50 shoulders were analyzed with five subjects excluded from data analysis. The Active Compression Test demonstrated a sensitivity of 55%, specificity of 77%, positive predictive value of 40%, and a negative predictive value of 86%. The Pain Provocative Test demonstrated a sensitivity of 33%, specificity of 74%, positive predictive value of 23%, and negative predictive value of 83%. Conclusions: This study did not reproduce the high levels of diagnostic values found in the original research of the Active Compression Test and the Pain Provocative Test.
