Question

When treating a client's anterior scalene muscle, which test should be used to confirm the Adson's test upon assessment?

a) Elevated arm stress test
b) Roos test
c) Military brace test
d) Halstead maneuver

Answer 1

To confirm the results of an Adson's test when assessing the anterior scalene muscle, the Roos test is commonly used, which involves holding the arms elevated and opening and closing the hands to test the neurovascular bundle.

Step-by-step explanation:

When treating a client's anterior scalene muscle and seeking to confirm the results of an Adson's test, the follow-up test that is commonly used is the Roos test. The Roos test, also known as the 'East Test', is a functional test used to assess the integrity of the thoracic outlet as the arms are held in elevation and the patient opens and closes the hands for three minutes, testing the neurovascular bundle in the area. The Adson's test checks for thoracic outlet syndrome by monitoring for a loss of the radial pulse when the head is rotated towards the involved side and the patient takes a deep breath, extending their neck while lifting their chest. The Roos test is more dynamic and can help confirm the presence of thoracic outlet syndrome when positive after an Adson's test might indicate compression of the neurovascular structures by the anterior scalene muscle.