Which physical exam test is commonly used to screen for rotator cuff tears?

• A. Empty can (Jobe) test
• B. Drop arm test
• C. Hawkins test
• D. Apprehension test

Answer: (A)

The test focuses on how well the supraspinatus muscle, the most commonly torn part of the rotator cuff, is functioning. In the empty can (Jobe) test, the arm is elevated about 90 degrees in the scapular plane with the thumb pointed downward (internal rotation), which places the supraspinatus under relative isolation from the deltoid. The patient then resists downward pressure. If the patient experiences pain or weakness during this resisted action, it suggests supraspinatus pathology and raises concern for a rotator cuff tear.

Other tests target different issues. A drop arm test looks for inability to control the arm during abduction, often indicating a larger, full-thickness tear but is less of a general screening tool. Hawkins-Kennedy (Hawkins) and Neer tests assess subacromial impingement rather than specifically screening for a tear, and the apprehension test checks stability of the shoulder joint rather than rotator cuff integrity.