Physical Therapy Haven

Supine Impingement Test

This test is used to screen for shoulder impingement

“Patient is in a supine position with examiner at the side of the involved arm. Examiner grasps the patient’s wrist and distal aspect of the humerus and elevates the patient’s arm to end range. Examiner moves the patient’s arm into external rotation and adducts the arm to the patient’s ear. Next, the examiner internally rotates the arm. A positive test is indicated by significant increase in shoulder pain.”[1]

 

 

Sensitivity

97%¹

Specificity

9%¹

 

 

+1.07¹

-0.33¹