What is the patient position for the Push-Pull test?

• A. Seated with arm abducted 75°
• B. Prone with arm behind back
• C. Standing with arm overhead
• D. Supine with 90° abduction and 90° elbow flexion

Answer: (D)

The Push-Pull test is performed with the patient lying on their back and the arm positioned in 90 degrees of abduction at the shoulder with the elbow flexed at 90 degrees. This setup places the glenohumeral joint in a stable, repeatable orientation, allowing the examiner to apply controlled anterior and posterior forces along the length of the humerus to stress the joint’s soft tissues. The supine position minimizes gravity’s influence and helps isolate the shoulder mechanics from the rest of the body. The 90/90 position also keeps the scapula relatively neutral and provides a consistent starting point, which is essential for reliable assessment. Other positions—such as seated with different abduction, prone with the arm behind the back, or standing with the arm overhead—change the joint mechanics and scapular position, making the test less consistent and harder to compare.