Speed's Test: how to assess the long head of the biceps in the shoulder

Speed's Test, alongside Yergason's test, is one of the two classic tests for assessing the long head of the biceps tendon at the shoulder. Its mechanism is different and often easier to apply in training contexts, because it resembles a fairly common movement: resisting shoulder flexion with the elbow extended.

What does this test measure?

Speed's Test aims to reproduce pain in the bicipital groove (front of the shoulder) by placing active tension on the long head of the biceps through resisted shoulder flexion with the elbow extended and the forearm supinated.

Equipment needed

• None

Step-by-step protocol

1. The person stands with the elbow fully extended and the forearm in supination (palm facing up)
2. The arm is raised into shoulder flexion at about 60-90°
3. Place one hand on the person's forearm and apply downward resistance (toward shoulder extension)
4. Ask the person to resist, maintaining shoulder flexion ("don't let me push your arm down")
5. Observe whether pain appears localized in the bicipital groove, on the front of the shoulder

Common mistakes

• Allowing the elbow to bend during the resistance, which reduces specific tension on the long head of the biceps
• Applying resistance abruptly instead of progressively
• Not asking specifically about the location of the pain (anterior/bicipital groove vs. diffuse shoulder pain)

How to interpret the result

Result	Interpretation
No pain in the bicipital groove	Negative
Pain localized in the bicipital groove (front of the shoulder)	Positive — suggests tendinopathy or irritation of the long head of the biceps, and in some cases may be associated with superior labral pathology (SLAP)

Like Yergason's test, Speed's Test has reasonable specificity but limited sensitivity for biceps pathology on its own. Combining it with other tests improves the reliability of the clinical suspicion.

Remember: it's an orientational screening test and doesn't replace imaging assessment when there's significant suspicion.

Related tests

For a more complete assessment of the front of the shoulder, combine Speed's Test with:

• Yergason's test — another biceps-specific test with a different mechanism; if both are positive, it strongly reinforces the suspicion
• O'Brien's test — useful if you also suspect superior labrum involvement (the long head of the biceps attaches there)

Why tracking it matters

Anterior shoulder pain related to the biceps is very common in people who train bench press, dips, pull-ups, or heavy bicep curls, and usually responds well to volume and intensity adjustments if caught early. In Movalytics you can record the result of Speed's Test (positive/negative, affected side) alongside the rest of the shoulder assessment, to clearly track how it evolves with changes to programming.

Frequently asked questions

Are Speed's Test and Yergason's Test interchangeable? Not entirely. Although they assess the same structure, the mechanisms are different, and a person can test positive on one and negative on the other. That's why it's recommended to use both when biceps involvement is suspected. What does it mean if Speed's Test is positive but Yergason's is negative? This can happen, and it doesn't invalidate the positive Speed's Test result. It simply means it's worth investigating further (other tests, imaging) before ruling out biceps pathology. Is it normal to feel some general muscular tension during the test, without it being "pain"? Yes, it's normal to feel the biceps working as it resists. What matters for the test is the appearance of localized pain in the bicipital groove area, not the simple sensation of effort.