Speed's Test: How to Check for Biceps Tendinopathy

Speed's Test (also known as the Biceps Straight Arm Test) is a common special test for the shoulder, used by physiotherapists to assess the long head of the biceps tendon. Click the sections below for details on how to perform it and what the results mean.

1. Purpose

The primary purpose of Speed's Test is to **test for** inflammation or lesions of the long head of the biceps (LHB) tendon, such as bicipital tendinopathy. It can also be an indicator of a Superior Labral (SLAP) lesion.

2. How to Perform

1. The patient is positioned in sitting or standing.
2. The patient's elbow is fully extended (straight), and the forearm is supinated (palm facing up).
3. The examiner places one hand on the bicipital groove to palpate and the other hand on the distal forearm.
4. The examiner instructs the patient to raise their arm forward (shoulder flexion) against the examiner's resistance.

3. Positive & Negative Sign

Positive Sign (Test is POSITIVE):
A positive test (indicating an issue) is:

• Pain or tenderness reproduced in the bicipital groove of the shoulder. This suggests bicipital tendinopathy.

Negative Sign (Test is NEGATIVE):
A negative test is the absence of pain during the resisted movement.