28/01/2026
Few Tests for Shoulder..
▪️Drop arm test
Patient seated with the shoulder passively abducted to 90 degrees and externally rotated; patient instructed to slowly lower the arm back to the side
》 Positive: patient is unable to lower their arm down slowly and suddenly drops to the side without control
▪️O’Brien’s test
The patient stands or sits with their affected arm flexed at 90° and adducted 10–15°; the patient internally rotates their shoulder; the examiner applies downward pressure on the patient’s arm while the patient resists; repeated with the upper extremity in external rotation
》 Positive: pain or clicking noise found when performing internal rotation and symptoms relieved when performing external rotation
▪️Empty can test
The patient stands or sits with their arms at their sides. The patient abducts their arm to 90 degrees, with their elbow extended. The patient internally rotates their shoulders so that their thumbs point towards the floor. The examiner applies downward pressure on the patient’s wrist or forearm.
》 Positive: Pain in the shoulder, weakness in the arm, and the patient’s arm dropping involuntarily.
Tests the supraspinatus muscle
▪️Neer’s
The patient sits comfortably, and the examiner stands behind them. The examiner stabilizes the patient’s scapula (shoulder blade) with one hand to prevent scapular movement during the test. The examiner passively flexes the patient’s arm forward while internally rotating it, bringing the greater tuberosity of the humerus (the bony bump on the upper arm) under the acromion.
》 Positive: The patient reports pain or tenderness during arm movement, particularly in the anterior or lateral aspect of the shoulder.
Tests for impingement
▪️Hawkins-Kennedy
The patient sits with their arm flexed at the shoulder and elbow to 90 degrees. The examiner stabilizes the patient’s shoulder with one hand and internally rotates the arm with the other hand.
》 Positive: The test is considered positive if the patient experiences pain in the anterior shoulder during internal rotation.
Tests for impingement
▪️Internal rotation lag sign
Patient is seated with arm held behind the back in internal rotation passively
》 Positive: patient is unable to maintain internal rotation
▪️External rotation lag sign
Patient is seated or standing with the shoulder passively abducted to 90 degrees and externally rotated
》 Positive: patient is unable to maintain external rotation
▪️Sulcus sign (tests posterior and inferior instability)
Patient stands with arm relaxed at the side; therapist pulls the arm distally
》 Positive: presence of sulcus inferior to the acromion with symptom reproduction
▪️Bicep load II test (Bicep tendonitis tests)
Patient in supine with shoulder abducted to 120 degrees, elbow flexed to 90 degrees, forearm supinated; shoulder fully externally rotated; if the patient demonstrates apprehension when performing, then asked to flex the elbow against resistance
》 Positive: if apprehension remains the same or the shoulder becomes more painful
▪️Lift off test (Gerber’s test)
Patient is standing with the shoulder passively placed in internal rotation and the hand at waist level against the back
》 Positive: patient is unable to lift off the back
▪️Horizontal adduction test (Acromioclavicular joint)
Patient standing with shoulder flexed to 90 degrees and adducted across the chest
》 Positive: localized pain over the AC joint
▪️Speed’s test
Patient sitting or standing with upper limb in full extension (at the side) and forearm supination, resist shoulder flexion
Can also place the shoulder in 90 degrees of flexion and push the upper limb into extension (causing eccentric contraction)
Tests bicipital tendonitis and SLAP lesions
》 Positive: pain in the bicipital groove at the anterior shoulder
▪️Yergason’s test
Patient sitting with shoulder in neutral position against trunk, elbow at 90 degrees, and forearm pronated, resist supination of forearm and external rotation of shoulder.
Tests for transverse ligament, bicipital tendonitis, and SLAP lesions.
》 Positive: biceps tendon of long head will be palpable outside of the bicipital groove, or a reproduction of pain.
▪️Apprehension test (tests anterior instability)
Patient is supine, the shoulder is in 90 degrees of abduction; therapist attempts to externally rotate
》 Positive: patient seems apprehensive about performing movement and resists motion
