Upper Limb Tension Tests
Check the neurological structure of your patient’s upper limbs with the upper limb tension tests. Click here for a template and a guide on how to use it.
Fact Checked by Nate Lacson.
What is an Upper Limb Tension Test (ULTTs)?
The , also known as the Brachial Plexus Tension Test or Elvey Test, are designed to help the practitioner assess the neurological structures of a patient’s limb - its length and mobility - by increasing the neural tension in particular nerves. Usually, these tests are part of a neurodynamic assessment to identify if the patient has cervical radiculopathy, a “pinched nerve”, or even peripheral neuropathy.
There are four Upper Limb Tension Tests, and among the three names they have, one is based on the nerve they are placing pressure on to test. To enumerate, here are the four tests:
- ULTT1 or ULTT A or Median Nerve Bias
- ULTT2A or ULTT B or Median Nerve Bias
- ULTT2B or ULTT C or Radial Nerve Bias
- ULTT3 or ULTT D or Ulnar Nerve Bias
Like certain physical tests, the Upper Limb Tension Tests don’t come with a template. That’s why we’ve decided to create one just for you to use as a guide or reference. In our template, we’ve included:
- Blanks you can fill up with basic information like the patient’s name, examiner’s name, and date
- Instructions on how to conduct the test
- A guide on how to know if your patient will test positive
- A dedicated space for the patient’s results as well as additional notes you may have per test
Think you’ll benefit from having a copy of our template? Read the section below for a guide on how to download and utilize our template.
See the video below to observe how Upper Limb Tension Tests are performed:
Printable Upper Limb Tension Test
Download this Upper Limb Tension Test to check the neurological structure of your patient’s upper limbs.
How does this work?
Access the Template
To access and download our template, you can do either of the following
- Click the “Download Template” or “Use this Template” button above
- Go to Carepatron’s template library on our website or app and search for “Upper Limb Tension Test”.
Conduct the Test
Fill out the basic information, such as the patient’s name, examiner’s name, and exam date. Once finished, you may proceed to conduct the test.
On our template, you’ll find instructions for the four Upper Limb Tension Tests we’ve mentioned above. To conduct each, you simply have to follow the steps provided.
Record the Results and Interpret
After every test, you must record the results by ticking the “positive” or “negative” checkbox according to the patient’s reaction. We’ve provided a guide on our template on how to know if your patient tests positive for the test.
Feel free to utilize the dedicated space for notes for observations or reminders you think may aid you or fellow practitioners during further testing.
Proceed with the Next Steps
If your patient is positive in any of the tests, you may proceed to doing imaging tests to identify and isolate the affected nerve to formulate a diagnosis or treatment plan.
Scoring
Since the tests in the template aren’t quantitative, scoring is as simple as ticking the positive or negative checkbox in the “Patient’s Test Result” section based on their reaction.
Upper Limb Tension example (sample)
Check out our sample of a filled-out Upper Limb Tension Tests template to give you an idea of how the tests included may look completed.
And in case you want a copy to use as a reference in the future, simply click the “Download Example PDF” button above or the sample below.
Download this Upper Limb Tension Test Example (Sample) here:
When to use these Upper Limb Tension assessments?
As a medical professional, you would know best when to utilize our template and the four tests in it. However, in case you need assistance, we’ve provided a list of symptoms and situations wherein you may want to test your patient to confirm your clinical impression or eliminate other diagnoses.
For symptoms, it’s best you conduct the test if they are feeling:
- Upper limb muscle atrophy
- Swelling of the limbs
- Changes in the hands' sensitivity depending on the nerve damage location
- Soreness, pain, weakness, tingling, or numbing in the arm, shoulder, hand, or fingers
- Involuntary muscle contractions or cramps
For situations on the other hand, you may want to assess your patient with these tests if they have:
- Vitamin imbalances, especially Vitamin B12
- Swelling or inflammation because of an infection or disease
- A tumor
- Injuries or deformation because of their work or activities
- Undergone surgery
- Experienced trauma to the nerve, such as a tear, rupture, etc.
Do note that some other symptoms and situations may require you to conduct the Upper Limb Tension Test, and we only provided a handful of common ones that practitioners usually use as a basis.
Benefits of these free Upper Limb Tension Test Templates
Easy to Learn and Use
Since each test only has a few simple instructions, you and fellow practitioners conducting it can easily understand, learn, and use it in your practice.
Time-Saving
It’s encouraged that one efficiently does the test, stopping when the patient verbalizes pain or refraining from keeping a position for too long to not aggravate the patient's symptoms. As a result, time spent doing the physical test is saved without sacrificing the result’s quality.
Moreover, with our template, practitioners don’t have to spend time looking for a guide on how to do the test or a notepad where they can write the test results.
Written Results for Future Reference
Instead of relying on your memory, a messaging app, or even a sticky note, it’s best to use our template as the sole document where you write the results you and fellow practitioners can access when needed for future reference. There’s no risk of it getting forgotten, buried under messages, or lost.
Inexpensive
There are only three things one needs to conduct this test: observation skills, the patient, and our free template. You don’t have to pay for additional equipment or resources to assess your patient.
Accessible
Our template is downloadable and digitally editable, which means you and fellow practitioners can access the template and the test results anytime, anywhere, and on any gadget you have on hand.
Why use this Upper Limb Tension app?
Beyond being a template source and guide for the Upper Limb Tension Tests, Carepatron helps you streamline business/clinical processes and automate administrative tasks. That way, at the end of the day, most of your time and effort will go toward patient care.
Wondering what Carepatron is? Well, Carepatron is the leading software management platform in the healthcare industry today. For accessibility, Carepatron is available as an application you can use on your desktop and iOs or Android phone to access various features and resources.
When you set up an account, you’ll have free access to:
- Over 100 editable, downloadable, and printable templates in PDF form of surveys, tests, assessments, and more
- A HIPAA-compliant and secure EHR system for all your digital notes and your clients’ additional medical documents
- Multiple scheduling and telehealth software applications that are integrated right into your dashboard
- An automated payment system you can set up for your client
Like how Carepatron sounds? Give it a try and sign up at Carepatron today!
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Reference
Nee, R. J. (2012). The validity of upper-limb neurodynamic tests for detecting ... - JOSPT. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Retrieved May 4, 2023, from https://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/10.2519/jospt.2012.3988
Commonly asked questions
The person who created the Upper Limb Tension tests is Elvey RL.
To score, you simply have to tick the “positive” or “negative” checkbox that matches the observed reaction or response.
The Upper Limb Tension tests for several disorders or disabilities such as cervical radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy.
