Upper Limb Tension Test 3/ ULTT3 / ULNT C for Radial Nerve Assessment

The upper limb tension test can be seen as the equivalent of the straight leg raise test for the neurological structures of the upper limbs.

According to Wainner et al. in the year 2003, the ULTT1 or ULTTA has a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 33% for the diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy.
Apelby-Albrecht (2013) however, found only a sensitivity of 43% with a specificity of 75%. For every test, make sure to test the good side first.

ULTT3 or ULTTC is designed to put stress on the radial nerve. To perform the test, again, depress the shoulder and bring the arm into 10° of abduction. Then flex your patient’s wrist and fingers, pronate the forearm and flex the elbow to 90°. Now slowly extend the elbow to lengthen the neurological structures. Again, you can aggravate the test, by asking your patient to lateral flex to the other side.

Positive Outcome: The patient’s familiar arm symptoms like shooting pain or paresthesia are reproduced. Some authors score the test negative in case of a marked decrease of mobility (>10°)

If you are interested in the other Upper Limb Tension Tests, check out the links below:

• Upper Limb Tension Test 1 /ULNT A
• Upper Limb Tension Test 2 / ULNT B
• Upper Limb Tension Test 4 / ULNT D

21 OF THE MOST USEFUL ORTHOPAEDIC TESTS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

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References

Apelby-Albrecht M, Andersson L, Kleiva IW, Kvåle K, Skillgate E, Josephson A. Concordance of upper limb neurodynamic tests with medical examination and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cervical radiculopathy: a diagnostic cohort study. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics. 2013 Nov 1;36(9):626-32.

Wainner RS, Fritz JM, Irrgang JJ, Boninger ML, Delitto A, Allison S. Reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the clinical examination and patient self-report measures for cervical radiculopathy. Spine. 2003 Jan 1;28(1):52-62.