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Painful Arc Test

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Painful Arc Test
Illustration of the painful arc test
Painful arc test
  • Painful Arc
  • Painful Arc Test
  • Painful Arc Sign
  • Shoulder Painful Arc
  • Painful Arc of Abduction
  • Subacromial Painful Arc
  • Impingement Arc Test
  • Painful Arc Maneuver

Purpose

Description

  • The patient is seated or standing
  • The arm starts resting at their side, elbow fully extended in a neutral position
  • The patient should be instructed to abduct the arm in the scapular plane to point of maximal tolerance
  • Positive Test:
    • Pain, typically between 60 - 120° arc
    • Pain will often improve when the arc exceeds 120°

Pathology

Evidence

Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

  • Calis et al[1]
    • Sensitivity: 33%
    • Specificity: 81%
    • LR+: 1.70
    • LR-: 0.84

Rotator Cuff Disease

  • Hermans et al [2]
    • Sensitivity: 71%
    • Specificity: 81%
    • LR+: 3.7
    • LR-: 0.36

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Calis, M., Akgun, K., Birtane, M., et al. (2000). Diagnostic values of clinical diagnostic tests in subacromial impingement syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis, 59, 44-47.
  2. ↑ Hermans, Job, et al. "Does this patient with shoulder pain have rotator cuff disease?: The Rational Clinical Examination systematic review." Jama 310.8 (2013): 837-847.
Created by:
John Kiel on 7 August 2019 15:57:22
Authors:
Last edited:
25 March 2026 14:08:15
Categories:
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