Original Articles
A modification of the relocation test: Arthroscopic findings associated with a positive test*,**

https://doi.org/10.1067/mse.2000.105450Get rights and content

Abstract

Thirteen overhand-throwing athletes who failed at least 3 months of physical therapy while restricted from throwing and who demonstrated a positive modified relocation test at 90°, 110°, and/or 120° were clinically and arthroscopically examined. On arthroscopic examination, all patients demonstrated articular surface pathology. Eleven patients had fraying of the undersurface of the rotator cuff, and 10 patients had fraying of the posterosuperior labrum. With 90° shoulder abduction, 8 patients had rotator cuff contact with the posterosuperior labrum. When the shoulder was abducted to 110°, all patients demonstrated such contact. At 120° of abduction, 12 patients revealed contact. The presence or absence of pain during the modified relocation test correlated with the presence or absence of cuff contact with the posterosuperior labrum 79% of the time. Six patients had a positive modified relocation test at all levels of abduction. These patients included 2 with SLAP lesions, 1 with a Bankart lesion, and 1 with a complete tear of the rotator cuff. (J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2000;9:263-7.)

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Fourteen overhand-throwing athletes presenting with shoulder pain and scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy were examined. The average age of the patients was 24 years (range, 21-31 years). All patients failed at least 3 months of physical therapy3 while restricted from throwing and continued to complain of shoulder pain that restricted their ability to throw. Physical therapy included a supervised rotator cuff strengthening program. An additional criterion for inclusion was a positive modified

Results

All patients demonstrated anatomic pathology (Table I).

. Results of relocation tests and arthroscopic examination for 13 patients

Patient no.90°110°120°Site of painArthroscopy post cuff contactArthroscopic findings
1+++Sup/ant110°/120°Type II SLAP
2+Post/sup90°/110°/120°Post/sup labral fraying; undersurface cuff fraying
3+++Post/sup90°/110°/120°Ant labral fraying; undersurface cuff fraying
4+Post/sup110°/120°Post/sup labral fraying
5+Post/sup110°Post/sup labral fraying; undersurface cuff fraying
6+

Discussion

The shoulder relocation test has been advocated as a diagnostic tool in the treatment of shoulder pain in young overhand-throwing athletes.9, 10 In the normal shoulder, the humerus is abducted into the scapular plane during the cocking phase of throwing.6 If there has been stretching of the anterior soft tissue constraints, the humerus may be abducted horizontally into the coronal plane. This has been termed hyperangulation,4 inasmuch as the humeral shaft forms an acute angle to the scapula

References (14)

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*

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2000;9:263-7

**

Reprint requests: Marilyn M. Pink, PhD, PT, Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Biomechanics Laboratory, 555 E Hardy Street, Inglewood, CA 90301.

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