Apley's scratch test interpretation: Asymmetry, limited reach or pain suggests which issue?

Apley's scratch test interpretation: Asymmetry, limited reach or pain suggests which issue?

• A. Restriction in shoulder mobility or possible rotator cuff or capsular involvement
• B. Lower back strain
• C. Elbow arthritis
• D. Neck stiffness

Answer: (A)

The test evaluates shoulder girdle mobility and detects problems in the shoulder joint itself. When you compare both sides, any asymmetry, limited reach, or pain during the movements indicates a dysfunction in the shoulder, such as restricted shoulder mobility or pathology of the rotator cuff or the joint capsule. If you can’t reach adequately behind the head, across the chest, or above the head, it points to issues within the shoulder complex rather than elsewhere. Rotator cuff problems limit movement and can cause pain during these motions, while capsular involvement (like stiffness or adhesive capsulitis) reduces range of motion across multiple planes. Lower back strain or neck stiffness can affect posture or adjacent movements but the pattern seen with the Apley scratch test is most specific to the shoulder. Elbow arthritis would primarily affect elbow motion, not the reach required for this test.

The test evaluates shoulder girdle mobility and detects problems in the shoulder joint itself. When you compare both sides, any asymmetry, limited reach, or pain during the movements indicates a dysfunction in the shoulder, such as restricted shoulder mobility or pathology of the rotator cuff or the joint capsule.

If you can’t reach adequately behind the head, across the chest, or above the head, it points to issues within the shoulder complex rather than elsewhere. Rotator cuff problems limit movement and can cause pain during these motions, while capsular involvement (like stiffness or adhesive capsulitis) reduces range of motion across multiple planes.

Lower back strain or neck stiffness can affect posture or adjacent movements but the pattern seen with the Apley scratch test is most specific to the shoulder. Elbow arthritis would primarily affect elbow motion, not the reach required for this test.