Towel Test

What is the "Towel Test" used for?

• Towel test is used to evaluate the children with brachial plexus palsy.

How to perform the "Towel Test"?

• The child’s face is covered with a towel in a supine position and the unaffected arm is obstructed.
• The child will attempt to remove the towel using the unobstructed affected arm.

What is the positive result?

• To remove the towel, shoulder flexion, elbow flexion and extension, and finger flexion and extension are needed, and hence these movements can be assessed.
• If the child is able to remove the towel, it is considered a pass, suggestive of recovery of involved muscles, particularly elbow flexion.

Test Accuracy

•  The towel test is a reliable technique for evaluating children with obstetric brachial plexus injuries.

References

• Bertelli JA, Ghizoni MF. The towel test: a useful technique for the clinical and electromyographic evaluation of obstetric brachial plexus palsy. J Hand Surg Br. 2004 Apr;29(2):155-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsb.2003.10.018. PMID: 15010163.
• Orthofixar.com