J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2007 Jan;28(1):51-57.

Validity of Cyriax's Test in Young Male with Shoulder Pain Compared to Ultrasonographic Findings

• Kim SH
• Chung JH
• Choi WS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the validity of the Cyriax's selective tension examination as a diagnostic tool in young male with shoulder pain compared to ultrasonographic findings.
METHODS
Twenty young male patients with 26 shoulder pain cases were prospectively included in this study. All had a physical examination performed by Cyriax's selective tension method. As a diagnostic gold standard, ultrasonographic examination was carried out within one week of the physical examination by two specialists.
RESULTS
The most common findings by sonographic evaluation were sub-deltoid bursitis (65.4%). Sub-deltoid bursal effusion without rotator cuff injury were 10 cases (58.8%) and 17 cases (41.2%) showed combined rotator cuff lesion. The most common diagnoses by physical examination were sub-deltoid bursitis (46.2%) followed by supraspinatus tendon lesion (19.2%). Clinical assessment by physical examination showed low sensitivity in the diagnosis of rotator cuff lesion (42.9%) and sub-deltoid bursitis (70.6%) but high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of shoulder joint instability (sensitivity 100%, specificity 91.7%).
CONCLUSION
This study suggest that the validity of Cyriax's selective tension test for the diagnosis of shoulder pain are questionable.

Keyword

shoulder; Cyriax; selective tension; ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Bursitis
Diagnosis
Humans
Male*
Physical Examination
Prospective Studies
Rotator Cuff
Sensitivity and Specificity
Shoulder Joint
Shoulder Pain*
Shoulder*
Specialization
Tendons
Ultrasonography