The Lift-Off Test (also known as Gerber’s Test) is commonly used in orthopedic examinations to test for a tear in the subscapularis tendon or subscapularis tendonitis. It can also show scapular instability. Read more about rotator cuff tears. The lift-off test was originally described by Gerber and Krushell(199l) and is sometimes referred to as ‘Gerber’s Test’.
Test
The patient is examined in standing and is asked to put their hand behind Their back with the dorsum of the hand resting within the region of the mid- lumbar spine. The dorsum of the hand is raised off the rear by maintaining or increasing internal rotation of the humerus and extension at the shoulder. To perform this test the patient must have a full passive internal rotation in order that it’s physically possible to put the arm within the desired position and pain can’t be a limiting factor during the maneuver.
The patient is placed in an upright standing position. The hand ipsilateral to the affected shoulder is positioned on the contralateral shoulder with the fingers stretched and therefore the elbow positioned anteriorly to the body. The patient is asked to take care of this position (resisted internal rotation) while the examiner tries to perform external rotation by applying a force on the forearm so on remove the patient’s hand from his shoulder. If the patient is unable to stay his hand on his shoulder, or the resistance is 20% less than on the contralateral side, the test is taken into account to be positive. If the force is like that of the other side and pain is absent, the test is defined as negative.
Positive
The ability to actively lift the dorsum of the handoff the rear constitutes a traditional lift-off test. Inability to maneuver the dorsum off the rear constitutes an abnormal lift-off test and indicates subscapularis rupture or dysfunction.
Positive. the power to actively lift the dorsum of the handoff the rear constitutes a traditional lift-off test. Inability to maneuver the dorsum off the rear constitutes an abnormal lift-off test and indicates subscapularis rupture or dysfunction.
Research
Greis et al (1996) used EMG analysis to determine the muscle activity of the shoulder muscles during the lift-off test and during resisted internal rotation. The activity in the subscapularis in the upper and lower fibers during a lift-off test from the region of the mid-lumbar spine was approximately 70% of maximum voluntary contraction. The level was significantly (p<0.05) higher than all the other muscles tested. The lift-off test with the hand placed in the region of the mid-lumbar spine resulted in one-third more EMG activity in the subscapularis than when the test was modified and performed with the hand at the buttock region.
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