Reverse Phalen's Test indicates compression of which nerve?

• A. Ulnar nerve
• B. Radial nerve
• C. Median nerve
• D. Axillary nerve

Answer: (C)

Reverse Phalen's test targets compression of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel. Extending the wrists in this maneuver increases pressure within the carpal tunnel, and if the median nerve is affected, the patient will feel numbness or tingling in its typical sensory area of the hand (thumb, index, middle, and the radial half of the ring finger). This pattern points to median nerve compression, as seen in carpal tunnel syndrome. The other nerves have different sensory and motor patterns—ulnar nerve issues show up in the little finger and medial ring finger, radial nerve issues affect the dorsum of the hand and wrist extensors, and axillary nerve issues involve the shoulder region—so a positive effect with median-nerve distribution strongly supports median nerve compression.