Understanding the Scapular Assistance Test (SAT) Assessment
To determine if the patient's shoulder symptoms (often impingement) are due to or alleviated by **scapular dyskinesis (abnormal scapular movement)**.
Watch How It's Done
How do I start?
Patient is sitting or standing. Arm is at the side.
What happens?
The patient actively abducts or flexes the affected arm. The examiner assists the movement by manually **guiding and stabilizing the scapula** into better retraction and external rotation.
In Plain English
What Does a Positive Result Mean?
The patient reports a **reduction or complete elimination of pain** during the assisted movement, suggesting inadequate scapular control is a contributing factor to the pain.
Helpful Tip:
If symptoms improve, the treatment should focus on scapular stability and strengthening.
Safety First
This guide is to help you understand what happens in a clinic. Do not try to diagnose yourself. If you have severe pain, swelling, or cannot put weight on your leg, please visit an urgent care center or your doctor immediately.
Other shoulder Tests
Adson's Test
To assess for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) due to compression of the neurovascular bundle by the anterior and middle scalene muscles.
Anterior Drawer Test Of The Shoulder
To assess for anterior glenohumeral joint laxity and instability and the integrity of the anterior capsular structures.
Arm Squeeze Test
This is a new clinical test that may be useful to distinguish between Cervical radiculopathy from other shoulders related pathology. The anatomic reasoning behind this test is that because the musculocutaneous nerve (cervical root from C5 to C7), the radial nerve (from C5 to T1), the ulnar nerve (from C7 to T1), and the median nerve (from C5 to T1) are relatively superficial in the middle third of the arm and easy to elicit a painful provocation response by squeezing the arm. A moderate compression of skin, subcutis, and muscle by squeezing the middle third of the upper arm (brachial biceps and triceps area) on the side with shoulder pain elicits an intense reaction of local pain only in patients with cervical nerve root compression from C5 to T1, not when the pain arises from the shoulder.
Bear Hug Test
To assess for a tear or significant weakness in the **subscapularis tendon** (subscapularis strength).