Assesses for neuropathy through mechanical compression at the supraclavicular fossa.

  • Morley’s Compression Test

  • Radiating symptoms to the upper extremity
    • Pain, paresthesia, numbness, muscle weakness

Patient Position
  • Seated
Examiner Position
  • Standing on patient's affected side
Steps of Performance
  1. Ensure the patient is seated upright with their arms at their sides
  2. Compress the supraclavicular fossa for 30 seconds with your thumb or fingers
Alternative Methods
  1. Using the same technique, as above, compress the interscalene groove of the brachial plexus

Applying pressure to an already irritated neurovascular bundle feeding the upper extremity is likely to produce radiating or vascular occlusion symptoms down the ipsilateral upper extremity.

General

Localized pain

  • Localized pain that does not radiate is considered a normal finding and is not diagnostic

Positives

Reproduction of patient's symptoms

  • Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS)
    • Brachial plexopathy
  • Radiculopathy

Pertinent Negatives

DATA
TAGS
References
Uchihara T, Furukawa T, Tsukagoshi H. Compression of brachial plexus as a diagnostic test of cervical cord lesion. Spine. 1994;19(19):2170-2173. doi:10.1097/00007632-199410000-00007.
Freischlag J, Orion K. Understanding thoracic outlet syndrome. Scientifica. 2014;2014:1-6. doi:10.1155/2014/248163.
Lefebvre R, Novak C. Cervical Orthopedic Tests. University of Western States. Published 2005, revised 2021. Accessed April 17, 2022.

Assesses for neuropathy through mechanical compression at the supraclavicular fossa.

  • Radiating symptoms to the upper extremity
    • Pain, paresthesia, numbness, muscle weakness

Patient Position
  • Seated
Examiner Position
  • Standing on patient's affected side
Steps of Performance
  1. Ensure the patient is seated upright with their arms at their sides
  2. Compress the supraclavicular fossa for 30 seconds with your thumb or fingers
Alternative Methods
  1. Using the same technique, as above, compress the interscalene groove of the brachial plexus

Applying pressure to an already irritated neurovascular bundle feeding the upper extremity is likely to produce radiating or vascular occlusion symptoms down the ipsilateral upper extremity.

General

Localized pain

  • Localized pain that does not radiate is considered a normal finding and is not diagnostic

Positives

Reproduction of patient's symptoms

  • Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS)
    • Brachial plexopathy
  • Radiculopathy

Pertinent Negatives