Speed's Test Catches Biceps Pain. Barely. Sensitivity Is Embarrassing For Something So Widely Taught.

Speed's test screens for biceps tendon and labral pathology in the shoulder. Its sensitivity ranges from 32 to 69 percent, which means it misses roughly one third to two thirds of actual cases. Pabau's practice management software includes assessment templates that standardize how clinicians record Speed's test findings across every patient encounter.

This illustrates a concept I would expect my students to already grasp: a screening test is not a diagnostic test. The mechanism here is sensitivity versus specificity tradeoff. A test can rule something in or rule something out, but rarely both. Pairing a low-sensitivity screen like Speed's test with higher-yield assessments is how clinicians reduce false negatives. The software simply enforces that discipline.

Pabau provides practice management software, branded here as Pabau Marketing Plus, targeting medspas, aesthetic clinics, dermatology practices, longevity clinics, IV therapy providers, weight loss programs, and functional medicine practices. Their platform includes assessment templates, booking integrations, patient data flows, and marketing automations.