Phalen maneuver

Phalen's maneuver is a diagnostic test for carpal tunnel syndrome[1] by an American orthopedist named George S.

[2] The patient is asked to hold their wrists in complete and forced flexion (pushing the dorsal surfaces of both hands together) for 30–60 seconds.

[citation needed] This test is performed by having the patient maintain full wrist and finger extension for two minutes.

In contrast, the change in carpal tunnel pressure noted in the standard Phalen's test is modest and plateaus after 20 to 30 seconds.

[citation needed] The extended wrist posture significantly changes the pressure within the carpal tunnel and may be more useful as a provocative examination maneuver.

Transverse section across the wrist and digits. (The median nerve is the yellow dot near the center. The carpal tunnel is not labeled, but the circular structure surrounding the median nerve is visible.)
Reverse Phalen's test