Scapular Stability and Prone Shoulder Flexion Tests: Nearly Half of Athletes Show Dyskinesis, It Does Not Predict Injury on Its Own (Risk Ratio 1.07), and No Visual Method Is Yet Clinic-Grade Reliable
3 days ago
4 min read
Two quick shoulder screens sit at the start of most upper-body assessments. The scapular stability clearing test asks the athlete to hold a push-up position or raise the arms while the tester watches the shoulder blades for winging, tilting or a loss of control. The prone shoulder flexion test has the athlete lie face down and raise a straight arm overhead, reading how far it goes and whether the blade or the back cheats. Both are used to flag a shoulder that is "unstable" and therefore at risk. The pooled evidence says the observation is repeatable and the prediction is not.
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