Compression Rotation Test

Published July 2, 2026 Read time 1 min read Readers 2
Compression Rotation Test

What is the “Compression Rotation Test” used for?

  • Labral Tears

How to perform the “Compression Rotation Test”?

  • The patient is supine or standing with the examiner standing beside the test shoulder.Ā 
  • The examiner passively abducts the shoulder to between 20Ā° and 90Ā° with the patientā€™s elbow at 90Ā°.Ā 
  • The examiner applies an axial compression force through the long axis of the humerus (pushing up through the elbow) while passively rotating the humerus back and forth (small and large circles) to try to trap the labrum within the joint

What is the positive result?

  • If pain, clicking, or a catching sensation is elicited, the test is considered positive for a torn labrum.

References

  1. Clinical Sports Medicine Update. A Review of the Special Tests Associated with Shoulder Examination Part II: Laxity, Instability, and Superior Labral Anterior and Posterior (SLAP) Lesions – Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-compression-rotation-test_fig3_10852038.