User:Jwil224/Roos Test

Purpose
The Roos test is a clinical test that identifies the presence of thoracic outlet syndrome of neurologic or vascular etiology.

Procedure
The subject sits or stands with both shoulders in 90 degrees of abduction and external rotation, and the elbows in 90 degrees of flexion. The examiner stands in front of the patient. The patient rapidly opens and closes both hands for 3 minutes.

Mechanism
The rapid opening and closing of the hands should reproduce the patient’s symptoms: fatigue, heaviness, numbness and tingling, and possibly overt weakness.

Results
The inability to maintain the test position, diminished motor function of the hands, and/or loss of sensations in the upper extremities are indicative of thoracic outlet syndrome secondary to neurovascular compromise.

Adverse Effects
This test evaluates both neural and vascular structures and is considered to be the most accurate clinical test for assessing thoracic outlet syndrome. An examiner may find muscle fatigue present when performing the Roos test for an otherwise healthy population and should therefore use caution when documenting such findings with potential pathologically involved subjects.

History
The Roos test was first described in 1976 by Roos.