Shoulder Special Tests

Question 1

What does the Painful Arc Test indicate?

Answer 1

Positive if the patient reports pain in the 60–120° abduction range, indicating subacromial impingement.

Question 2

What does the Scapular Assist Test test for?

Answer 2

Positive if manual assistance to the scapula diminishes impingement symptoms.

Question 3

What does the Neer Impingement Test assess?

Answer 3

Positive if forced flexion causes shoulder pain, indicating subacromial impingement.

Question 4

What does the Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Test assess?

Answer 4

Positive if internal rotation at 90° flexion causes shoulder pain, indicating impingement.

Question 5

What does the IR Lag Sign (Lift-Off Lag Test) test for?

Answer 5

Positive if the patient cannot maintain the arm off the back, indicating subscapularis tear.

Question 6

What does the ER Lag Sign test for?

Answer 6

Positive if the patient cannot maintain full external rotation, indicating supraspinatus or infraspinatus tear.

Question 7

What does the Belly Press/Napoleon Test assess?

Answer 7

Positive if the elbow drops behind the body, indicating subscapularis tear.

Question 8

What does Hornblower’s Sign indicate?

Answer 8

Positive if the patient cannot externally rotate against resistance, indicating teres minor degeneration.

Question 9

What does the Empty-can Test assess?

Answer 9

Positive if weakness or pain occurs in the empty can position, indicating rotator cuff pathology.

Question 10

What does the Supraspinatus Drop-arm Test (Codman’s) indicate?

Answer 10

Positive if the patient cannot lower the arm slowly, indicating supraspinatus tear.

Question 11

What does the Bear-Hug Test assess?

Answer 11

Positive if the patient cannot resist hand lifting off the opposite shoulder, indicating subscapularis tear.

Question 12

What does the Clunk Test assess?

Answer 12

Positive if a ‘clunk’ or grinding sensation is felt, indicating labral tear.

Question 13

What does the Compression/Rotation Test assess?

Answer 13

Positive if a catching or snapping sensation occurs, indicating a torn labrum.

Question 14

What does the Crank Test assess?

Answer 14

Positive if pain or a click is reproduced, indicating a labral tear.

Question 15

What does Speed’s Test assess?

Answer 15

Positive if pain is localized to the bicipital groove, indicating bicipital tendinitis or labral tear.

Question 16

What does Yergason’s Test assess?

Answer 16

Positive if pain is localized to the bicipital groove, indicating bicipital tendinitis or labral tear.

Question 17

What does the O’Brien Test (Active Compression) assess?

Answer 17

Positive if pain is felt ‘inside the shoulder,’ indicating SLAP lesion.

Question 18

What does the Anterior Slide Test assess?

Answer 18

Positive if pain, a pop, or click occurs, indicating SLAP lesion.

Question 19

What does the Biceps Load I/II Test assess?

Answer 19

Positive if apprehension remains or pain increases with elbow flexion, indicating SLAP lesion.

Question 20

What does the O’Brien Test assess?

Answer 20

Positive if pain is felt on top of the shoulder (AC joint), indicating AC joint pathology.

Question 21

What does the Cross-over Impingement / Horizontal Adduction Test assess?

Answer 21

Positive if pain is felt in the AC joint or subacromial area, indicating AC joint pathology or impingement.

Question 22

What does the Acromioclavicular Resisted Extension Test assess?

Answer 22

Positive if pain at the AC joint occurs during resisted horizontal abduction, indicating AC joint injury.

Question 23

What does the Load and Shift Test assess?

Answer 23

Positive if humeral head translation exceeds the glenoid rim, indicating GH instability.

Question 24

What does the Apprehension Test/Jobe Subluxation assess?

Answer 24

Positive if the patient shows apprehension or pain during external rotation, indicating anterior instability.

Question 25

What does the Sulcus Sign (Inferior Instability) assess?

Answer 25

Positive if a depression greater than 1 cm is seen between the acromion and humeral head, indicating inferior instability.

Question 26

Which special tests are for rotator cuff/impingements?

Answer 26

Painful Arc Test Scapular Assist Test Neer Impingement Test Hawkins-Kennedy Impingement Test IR Lag Sign (Lift-Off Lag Test) ER Lag Sign Belly Press/Napoleon Test Hornblower’s Sign (Teres Minor Degeneration) Empty-can Test Supraspinatus Drop-arm Test (Codman’s) Bear-Hug Test

Question 27

Which special tests are for biceps/superior labral tears?

Answer 27

Clunk Test Compression/Rotation Test Crank Test Speed’s Test Yergason’s Test O’Brien Test (Active Compression) Anterior Slide Test Biceps Load I/II Test

Question 28

Which special tests are for the acromioclavicular joint?

Answer 28

O’Brien Test Cross-over Impingement / Horizontal Adduction Test Acromioclavicular Resisted Extension Test

Question 29

Which special tests are for testing passive restraint/instability?

Answer 29

Load and Shift Test Apprehension Test/Jobe Subluxation Sulcus Sign