The rotator cuff injury test is tool that fitness professionals can use to aid them in prescribing exercises for clients who have a rotator cuff injury or to confirm a suspected rotator cuff injury.
For the rotator cuff injury test, the client should have their injured arm in the following position:
- Client seated or standing upright.
- Humerus fully adducted (elbow touching the side of the body).
- Elbow flexed at a right angle. Forearm will be pointing forwards.
This will be referred to as the starting position.
NOTE:- Though this is an accurate testing procedure it may not always reflect exactly what muscle is injured.
- Even if a client feels no pain through the test, there is a possibility they still have an injury.
- Most often this test will not need to be performed, as a client with an injured shoulder will tell you which shoulder movement(s) cause pain.
- Asking a client how they injured their shoulder will help in discovering which shoulder movements to eliminate from their exercise program, without even having to perform the test.
Infraspinatus and Teres Minor (laterally rotates the humerus)- With client in the starting position,
- Place your hand against the rear of the clients hand or wrist.
- Ask the client to laterally rotate the humerus (keeping humerus fully adducted) while you place light to medium resistance against the clients hand or wrist.
If the client feels a pain sensation during the test, then it is likely they have an injured infra spinatus and/or teres minor.
If the client has injured the above muscle, then DO NOT prescribe the following compound exercises:
- Lat pulldown
- Chin-ups
- Assisted chin-ups
- Seated or supported row
- Bent over row
- Barbell/smith machine squats (client has to laterally rotate and abduct humerus to hold bar during the exercise)
Subscapularis (medially rotates the humerus)- With client in the starting position,
- Place your hand against the inside of the client’s wrist or palm.
- Ask the client to medially rotate the humerus (keeping humerus fully adducted) while you place light to medium resistance against the clients hand or wrist.
If the client feels a pain sensation during the test, then it is likely they have an injured subscapularis.
If the client has injured the above muscle, then DO NOT prescribe the following compound exercises:
- Bench press (barbell, dumbbell or machine)
Supraspinatus (abducts the humerus)The supraspinatus is responsible for the first 15degrees of humerus abduction.
- With client in the starting position,
- Place your hand against the outside of the client’s elbow.
- Ask the client to abduct the humerus, while you place light to medium resistance against the clients elbow.
If, during the test, the client feels a pain sensation during the first 15 degrees of abduction, then it is likely they have an injured supraspinatus.
If the client has injured the above muscle, then DO NOT prescribe the following compound exercises:
- Seated chest press - wide/regular grip
- Bench press (barbell, dumbbell or machine) - wide/regular grip
- Push-ups
- Dips
- Shoulder press
- Barbell/smith machine squats (client has to laterally rotate and abduct humerus to hold bar during the exercise)
Medial Deltoid (abducts the humerus)Though the medial deltoid is NOT a member of the rotator cuff group, it is relevant to this article as it is responsible for abducting the humerus after the supraspinatus has abducted the humerus the first 15 degrees.
- With client in the starting position, have them abduct the humerus 15degree (approximately).
- Place your hand(s) against the outside of the client’s elbow.
- Ask the client to further abduct the humerus, while you place light to medium resistance against the clients elbow.
If, during the test, the client feels a pain sensation during abduction, then it is likely they have an injured medial deltoid.
If the client has injured the above muscle, then DO NOT prescribe the following compound exercises:
- Seated chest press - wide/regular grip
- Bench press (barbell, dumbbell or machine) - wide/regular grip
- Push-ups
- Dips
- Shoulder press
- Barbell/smith machine squats (client has to laterally rotate and abduct humerus to hold bar during the exercise)
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