What testing method involves the patient placing both elbows on a table while flexing wrists vertically?

The testing method described involves the patient placing both elbows on a table while flexing the wrists vertically, which is characteristic of Phalen's sign. This test is commonly used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. When the wrists are flexed in this manner for about a minute, it can provoke symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers, particularly in the distribution of the median nerve.

This maneuver stretches the median nerve and may exacerbate any existing entrapment at the carpal tunnel. A positive Phalen's sign indicates that there may be compression of the median nerve, often due to repetitive motions or conditions that lead to inflammation in the wrist area.

In contrast, Tinel's sign is performed by tapping over the median nerve at the wrist to elicit similar symptoms. Finkelstein's test is used to assess de Quervain's tenosynovitis and involves ulnar deviation of the wrist while the thumb is grasped in a fist. Durkan's test, often referred to as the carpal compression test, involves applying pressure over the carpal tunnel to see if it induces symptoms. Each test has a distinct method and purpose when assessing wrist and hand disorders.