Roo's test is used to assess which condition.

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Roo's test is used to assess thoracic outlet syndrome. It works by placing the arms in a stressed position—about 90 degrees of abduction with 90 degrees of elbow flexion—and having the patient repeatedly open and close the fists for several minutes. This sustained, provocative posture can compress the neurovascular bundle as it passes through the thoracic outlet, so a positive result is when symptoms such as arm numbness, tingling, weakness, or pallor are reproduced or the patient cannot continue due to fatigue. This makes Roo's test particularly suited to detecting thoracic outlet compression of the nerves and vessels.

Allen's test checks arterial patency of the hand, not thoracic outlet symptoms. Adson's test and Wright's test also screen for thoracic outlet issues but focus on different anatomical sites of compression (scalene triangle and pectoralis minor region, respectively). Roo's test uniquely provokes the broad neurovascular symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome with sustained arm elevation.