For each of the images I uploaded, I changed the file names and removed any associated metadata that Claude might be able to access.
Bear in mind that this is using a free, generic language model that hasn’t been fine-tuned for medical diagnosis.
Prompt: Analyse what is happening in this picture. Based on your analysis, what is the most likely test being conducted here?
Response from Claude:
This image shows two side-by-side photos of what appears to be a medical or physical therapy examination. In both photos, there’s a shirtless man sitting on an examination table, and another man in a black shirt who seems to be a medical professional or therapist.
The professional is manipulating the patient’s arm in different positions. In the left image, he’s holding the patient’s arm straight out to the side. In the right image, he’s moving the arm across the patient’s chest.
Based on these observations, this appears to be an orthopedic examination, specifically a shoulder mobility test. The most likely test being conducted here is the Crossbody Adduction Test, also known as the Horizontal Adduction Test.
This test is commonly used to assess:
- Shoulder range of motion
- Potential issues with the acromioclavicular (AC) joint
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
The test involves moving the arm from an abducted position (arm out to the side) to an adducted position (arm across the body), which is exactly what we see in these two images.
Prompt: Describe what is happening in the attached picture.
Response from Claude:
The image shows an interaction between a woman and a young girl in what appears to be a physical therapy or rehabilitation setting.
The woman, who seems to be an adult or professional, is smiling warmly at the girl. She has long wavy brown hair and is wearing a light-colored sweater or jacket. Her body language is open and engaged, leaning slightly towards the child.
The girl appears to be of elementary school age with curly dark hair. She’s wearing a white top and is also smiling, looking up at the woman. Both the woman and girl have their hands near their throats or chins, suggesting they may be demonstrating or practicing some kind of exercise or movement.
In the background, there are colorful exercise balls on shelves and what looks like other therapy equipment. This setting suggests it could be a pediatric therapy clinic or similar healthcare environment.
The interaction looks positive and friendly, indicating a supportive relationship between the two individuals, possibly that of a therapist and patient.
Second prompt (the first response was a bit generic, so I followed up):
Look closely at the hand and finger position. Take a guess about what kind of exercise is being conducted.
Follow-on response from Claude:
Upon closer examination of their hand and finger positions, it appears they are engaged in a speech or vocal exercise. Both individuals have their fingers placed near their throats, which is a common technique used in speech therapy or vocal training.
Specifically:
- The woman has her fingers gently touching her throat/neck area, likely feeling for vibrations or movement.
- The young girl is mimicking this action, with her hand also placed near her throat.
This positioning is often used to help individuals become aware of their vocal mechanisms. It can be used to:
- Feel the vibration of the vocal cords during speech or vocalization
- Monitor laryngeal movement
- Increase awareness of muscle tension in the throat area
- Practice proper breathing techniques for speech
Given this observation and the clinical setting, it’s likely that this is a speech therapy session. The therapist might be demonstrating a technique for the child to feel how her voice is produced, or they could be practicing specific sounds or vocal exercises together.
This type of hands-on, mirrored exercise is common in speech therapy, especially for children, as it provides a tactile component to learning and helps develop awareness of how speech is physically produced.