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Shoulder special tests quiz

Questions use only the figures on this library's test pages.

Last updated 30 October 2026. 8 questions. Each answer links to the test page it comes from; the region's tests are listed on the Shoulder & upper arm cheat sheet.

Terms such as sensitivity, specificity, LR+ and LR− are explained in the glossary. A likelihood ratio above about 5 or below about 0.2 is doing real work; between 2 and 0.5 it is barely worth the time.

Question 1 of 8

Which of these tests best rules out rotator cuff tear?

  1. Full can test
  2. External rotation lag sign
  3. Drop arm test
  4. Empty can / Jobe's test
Show the answer

Answer: D. Empty can / Jobe's test. Empty can / Jobe's test has the lowest LR−, 0.19. The others: Full can test 0.37, Drop arm test 0.79, External rotation lag sign 0.92. See the test

Question 2 of 8

How far does a positive apprehension test move the probability of anterior instability?

  1. Up clearly: it is doing real work (LR+ above about 5)
  2. Up a little: a small shift (LR+ between about 2 and 5)
  3. Barely: it is barely worth the time (LR+ below about 2)
  4. Down: a positive result makes it less likely
Show the answer

Answer: A. Up clearly: it is doing real work (LR+ above about 5). Apprehension test: LR+ 20.2. Its page: “a strong rule-in: a positive result makes the diagnosis much more likely.” See the test

Question 3 of 8

How far does a positive full can test move the probability of rotator cuff tear?

  1. Up clearly: it is doing real work (LR+ above about 5)
  2. Up a little: a small shift (LR+ between about 2 and 5)
  3. Barely: it is barely worth the time (LR+ below about 2)
  4. Down: a positive result makes it less likely
Show the answer

Answer: B. Up a little: a small shift (LR+ between about 2 and 5). Full can test: LR+ 3.75. Its page: “a small shift: a positive result nudges the diagnosis up, but does not settle it.” See the test

Question 4 of 8

How far does a positive Hawkins–Kennedy sign move the probability of subacromial pain?

  1. Up clearly: it is doing real work (LR+ above about 5)
  2. Up a little: a small shift (LR+ between about 2 and 5)
  3. Barely: it is barely worth the time (LR+ below about 2)
  4. Down: a positive result makes it less likely
Show the answer

Answer: C. Barely: it is barely worth the time (LR+ below about 2). Hawkins–Kennedy sign: LR+ 1.64. Its page: “barely informative: a positive result changes little.” See the test

Question 5 of 8

What counts as a positive apprehension test?

  1. Sudden return of apprehension at the release.
  2. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain during the rotation.
  3. The apprehension settles and more external rotation is tolerated.
  4. Apprehension, the feeling that the shoulder will slip; pain alone does not count.
Show the answer

Answer: D. Apprehension, the feeling that the shoulder will slip; pain alone does not count. The Apprehension test page: “Apprehension, the feeling that the shoulder will slip; pain alone does not count.” See the test

Question 6 of 8

What counts as a positive drop arm test?

  1. The patient cannot rotate outward and adopts the characteristic hornblower's posture.
  2. The hand cannot be lifted, or only with trick movement.
  3. The arm drops or cannot be lowered with control, usually around 90°.
  4. The hand drifts back towards neutral (a lag).
Show the answer

Answer: C. The arm drops or cannot be lowered with control, usually around 90°. The Drop arm test page: “The arm drops or cannot be lowered with control, usually around 90°.” See the test

Question 7 of 8

Starting at 30% for anterior instability, what is the probability after a positive relocation test?

  1. 62%
  2. 90%
  3. 82%
  4. 71%
Show the answer

Answer: C. 82%. From the ladder on the Relocation test page: a starting 30% becomes 82% after a positive (LR+ 10.4: a strong rule-in). See the test

Question 8 of 8

Starting at 30% for rotator cuff tear, what is the probability after a positive drop arm test?

  1. 50%
  2. 25%
  3. 82%
  4. 73%
Show the answer

Answer: D. 73%. From the ladder on the Drop arm test page: a starting 30% becomes 73% after a positive (LR+ 6.45: a moderate rule-in). See the test

Other quizzes: Knee · Neck · Low back & pelvis · Hip, groin & thigh · Foot, ankle & calf · Elbow & forearm · Wrist & hand. How the figures are chosen: Methods.

Get the book for the shoulder questions that matter: neck or shoulder, a painful cuff or a torn one, and an unstable joint or the labrum

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