Reverse Phalen's test
For: Carpal tunnel syndrome
Compression of the median nerve in the tunnel at the front of the wrist. Causes tingling and numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often at night.
A weak test on its ownThese figures have not been confirmed against the full paper (checked against the abstract or a secondary source only).
What the numbers mean
- Positive result: points slightly the wrong way: a positive result makes the diagnosis a little less likely.
- Negative result: points slightly the wrong way: a negative result makes the diagnosis a little more likely.
Source
de Krom MC, Knipschild PG, Kester AD, et al. Efficacy of provocative tests for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Lancet. 1990;335(8686):393–395. PubMed · single study
Figures as they will appear in Rule It In, Rule It Out (Trokos, forthcoming). If a newer or better study changes them, this page changes with the book. Figures last updated from the book on 2 October 2026.
Get the book for how to do and read each wrist and hand test with published figures, and which carpal tunnel test to trust
This page gives the published figures. Rule It In, Rule It Out adds how to do this test, what counts as positive, how to read the result, and, where studied, whether combining it with other tests helps.
Coming in late 2026 as a PDF and a paperback. Join the list to hear when it's out
One study, one test, once a month
Rule It In is a free evidence letter for musculoskeletal clinicians: one recent study explained, one examination test with its real numbers. From Trokos, publisher of Rule It In, Rule It Out.