Question

You are evaluating a 79-year-old woman for a possible cerebrovascular accident (CVA). You ask her to close her eyes and hold both her arms out fully extended with palms facing up and to maintain that position. Which of the following would be a positive arm (pronator) drift sign?

		Neither arms move.
		Both arms move in the same direction.
		Both arms move in opposite directions.
		One arm stays stationary and one drifts down.

Answer 1

Answer : One arm stays stationary and one drifts down.

For conducting an arm (pronator) drift, ask the patient extends both arms upright in the supinated position and hold them at shoulder height for atleast 10 seconds (Patients should be asked to keep eyes closed). If one arm remain stationary and other one drift down considered as positive arm drift sign.

Neither arm moves : Is considered as normal result (negative pronator drift sign), so this is an incorrect option.

Both arms move in the same direction - In arm drift assessment ask the patient to keep both hands in a stationary position for 10 second , unaffected side remain stationary and affected side drift down;  so this is not considered as a positive arm drift sign.

Both arms move in opposite directions: Unaffected hand is expected to remain stationary for positive arm drift sign. So this is option is incorrect.

One arm stays stationary and one drifts down : This is considered as a positive arm drift sign for a possible CVA patient because arm on the affected side drift down due to weakness and other arm remain in stationary position.