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Clinical test — professional use

O'Brien active compression test

Screen for superior labral (SLAP) or AC joint pathology.

🔬 Beyond Rehab Science
AMBER — get assessed before starting rehab
Performed and interpreted by a trained clinician. Shown here so you can understand what an assessment involves—not for self-diagnosis.
PurposeScreen for superior labral (SLAP) or AC joint pathology.
Procedure
  1. Arm at 90° flexion and ~10°–15° across the body, thumb down; examiner pushes down as the patient resists.
  2. Repeat with the palm up.
Positive resultDeep pain with thumb down that is reduced with palm up.
InterpretationDeep joint pain suggests labral involvement; top-of-shoulder pain suggests AC joint.
Limitations
  • Variable accuracy across studies
  • No single test is definitive.
Diagnostic accuracySensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios will be shown once verified against the cited review(s). Values are never estimated.
Used for
Shoulder instability (labral tear, dislocation, subluxation)
Research
  1. [External] Hegedus EJ, Goode AP, Cook CE, et al. Which physical examination tests provide clinicians with the most value when examining the shoulder? Update of a systematic review with meta-analysis of individual tests. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012. find original ↗