The Infraspinatus Test assesses pain and strength during resisted shoulder external rotation. A positive finding may include familiar posterior or lateral shoulder pain, weakness or inability to resist compared with the other side. Current shoulder examination literature cautions against using rotat...
The Hawkins-Kennedy Test assesses shoulder pain response during passive shoulder flexion and internal rotation. It is often used in subacromial pain and rotator cuff-related shoulder pain assessment, but it does not identify one specific compressed structure. A 2024 systematic review found the evide...
Hornblower’s Sign assesses whether the client can externally rotate the shoulder when the arm is elevated or abducted. A positive finding may include inability to hold external rotation, dropping into internal rotation, weakness or familiar posterior shoulder symptoms. Current shoulder examination e...
The Hara Test is a multi-item assessment used in throwing athletes to screen shoulder, scapular and upper-limb kinetic chain findings that may relate to throwing symptoms. It should be treated as a structured clinical screen rather than a diagnostic test. Current overhead athlete literature supports...
Gerber’s Test, or the Lift-Off Test, assesses whether the client can lift the hand away from the lower back against gravity or resistance. A positive finding may include inability to lift off, weakness, compensation or familiar pain compared with the other side. A 2022 systematic review and meta-ana...
The Full Can Test assesses pain and strength during resisted shoulder elevation in the scapular plane with the thumb pointing up. It is often used in rotator cuff-related shoulder assessment, but it does not isolate the supraspinatus or diagnose a rotator cuff tear on its own. Contemporary shoulder ...
The Empty Can Test assesses pain and strength during resisted shoulder elevation in scaption with the shoulder internally rotated. It is commonly used in supraspinatus or rotator cuff-related assessment, but it does not isolate the supraspinatus or diagnose a tear on its own. A 2020 JOSPT commentary...
The Crank Test assesses whether axial loading and rotation of the elevated shoulder reproduces deep pain, catching, clicking or mechanical symptoms that may be associated with labral involvement. A positive finding may increase suspicion when it reproduces familiar deep shoulder symptoms, but it doe...
The drop arm test is a physical examination maneuver used to assess for full-thickness rotator cuff tears. It is performed by asking the patient to actively lift their arm to shoulder level, then slowly lower it back down to their side. If the patient is unable to smoothly lower their arm or experie...
Codman’s Test is commonly used to assess whether the client can control lowering the arm from an elevated position. A positive finding may include sudden dropping, inability to lower smoothly, marked weakness or familiar pain. Contemporary shoulder assessment commentary cautions that rotator cuff sp...
The Biceps Load II Test assesses whether resisted elbow flexion in an abducted and externally rotated shoulder position reproduces or increases shoulder pain that may be associated with the superior labrum and biceps anchor. A positive test may increase suspicion of SLAP or biceps-labral complex inv...
The Anterior Drawer Test of the Shoulder assesses anterior translation of the humeral head relative to the glenoid. A positive or meaningful finding depends on increased translation, lack of endpoint, apprehension or reproduction of familiar instability symptoms compared with the other side. A 2025 ...
