The Apprehension Test, or the crank test, is generally used to check for a shoulder dislocation or shoulder instability in the anterior direction.
To perform the shoulder apprehension test, have your patient lie down, and bring their arm into 90 degrees of abduction and the elbow at 90 degrees as well. Slowly rotate their shoulder into external rotation. If the patient shows apprehension, that is a positive test. Pain can indicate other things going on in the shoulder. Pushing downward on the glenohurmeral joint when doing the test again can be done to see if the pain or apprehension decreases.
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