Special Tests
Practice each of the following special tests as both the client and the clinician. Focus on proper body mechanics and hand placement to
prevent injury. Provide constructive feedback to your partner on technique.
Special Test
Position
Neer’s Test • Client seated or
Assesses impingement of standing
supraspinatus or biceps • Clinician
tendon standing to side
or behind
Hawkins-Kennedy Test • Client seated or
Assesses possible standing
subacromial impingement • Clinician stands
in front
Drop Arm Test • Client seated or
Assesses full thickness standing
RTC tears, particularly • Clinician
supraspinatus standing behind
Apprehension Test • Client seated or
Assesses integrity of GHJ lying supine
capsule, or instability in • Clinician
anterior direction standing to side
Procedure
• Stabilize scapula
• Passively flex arm
while IR
Positive Sign
• Pain in anterior or
lateral shoulder
• Flex shoulder and
elbow to 90
degrees
• IR shoulder
• Pain or discomfort
with IR
Picture
• Passively abduct
• Inability to
arm to 90 degrees
smoothly lower arm
or sudden dropping
• Ask client to
of arm suggests
slowly lower arm
tear
to side
• Passively flex
• Apprehension or
elbow to 90
fear (not pain) of
degrees
shoulder
dislocation
• Abduct arm to 90
degrees
• Slowly ER
shoulder
Video Resources:
o
o
o
o
Neer’s Test: https://youtu.be/k21FNtBjQ14?si=pw9EygCfm6n59wg2
Hawkin’s-Kennedy Test: https://youtu.be/2mSv7gLXyYg?si=cCDf5CNPBrlHS3l2
Drop Arm Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk9KTNbcaZ8
Apprehension Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqJRrms4u8
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