I like to use this test for many of my shoulder evaluations for a couple of reasons.
I use it a lot in people, especially baseball pitchers, with suspected posterior impingement (aka- internal impingement).
The premise is that they have a loose anterior capsule that causes the humeral head to shift anteriorly with end-range external rotation. This causes a pinching of the infraspinatus along the rim of the glenoid and potential pain.
By pressing the humeral head slightly posteriorly, I am relocating the humeral head and centering it, thereby recreating the forces of the RTC.
If the pain is diminished or relieved, then we often can diagnose internal impingement and focus on posterior cuff strengthening along with calming down the infraspinatus tendon/muscle.
Another way to use the test is with a suspected dislocation or subluxation of the humeral head.
The test is used the same way but if the apprehension is diminished, then we call it a + Relocation test for anterior instability.
I use this test a bunch and always have it in my back pocket if someone presents with either of those 2 diagnoses.
Keep it in your arsenal…I think it’s a good one that can help diagnose some common shoulder issues.
