Shoulder Orthopaedic Test: Painful Arc
Jun 11, 2023Painful Arc is a test used to identify possible subacromial impingement syndrome, which is a common condition that causes pain and limited range of motion in the shoulder.
Procedure:
- Ask the patient to stand upright with their arms relaxed at their sides.
- Instruct the patient to slowly abduct their arms in the scapular plane (30-45 degrees in front of the coronal plane) from 0 to 180 degrees.
- Observe the patient's movements for any pain or discomfort.
- Ask the patient to point to the location of their pain if they experience any.
- Then, ask the patient to slowly lower their arms back to their sides.
- Repeat the test on the other arm.
If the patient experiences pain or discomfort between approximately 60-120 degrees of abduction, it is considered a positive test for subacromial impingement syndrome.
References:
- Jobe FW, Moynes DR. Delineation of diagnostic criteria and a rehabilitation program for rotator cuff injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1982;10(6):336-339. doi:10.1177/036354658201000602
- Lewis JS. Rotator cuff tendinopathy: a review. Man Ther. 2015;20(1):3-9. doi:10.1016/j.math.2014.09.005
- Michener LA, McClure PW, Karduna AR. Anatomical and biomechanical mechanisms of subacromial impingement syndrome. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2003;18(5):369-379. doi:10.1016/s0268-0033(03)00047-0
Download Our Measurz App For FREEÂ And Perform, Record and Track 800+ Tests With Your Clients Today.
Want To Improve Your Assessment?
Not Sure If The MAT Data-Driven Approach Is Right For You?
Get a taste of our MAT Course and data-driven approach using the MAT with a FREE module from our online MAT Course.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.