Empty Can Test

Question 1

What is it used to diagnose?

Answer 1

sub-acromial pain syndrome / impingement
supraspinatus weakness
other rotator cuff disease

Question 2

What’s the rationale behind the test?

Answer 2

mechanically loads supraspinatus
potentially compresses or loads soft tissues within sub-acromial space

Question 3

What does a positive response identify?

Answer 3

identify muscle weakness
symptom or pain reproduction

Question 4

Empty can test procedure

Answer 4

1) Explain & IC
2) Patient stands with shoulders flexed in scapular plane - 40-70 degrees
3) “pretend you are holding a can in each hand and then tip it out by turning your wrists”
4) stand infront of patient and push down on patient’s wrista
5) test both shoulders at the same time to feel differences between each side

Question 5

Positive result of empty can test

Answer 5

anterolateral shoulder pain - impingement
giving way of limb - pain inhibition or full rotator cuff tear, mainly supraspinatus
lowering of arm under resistance - weakness, partial tear or pain inhibition

Question 6

negative result of empty can test

Answer 6

no pain reproduction
no muscle weakness

Question 7

Result of empty can test: anterolateral shoulder pain.
What does this mean?

Answer 7

impingement

Question 8

Result of empty can test: giving way of limb under resistance.
What does this mean?

Answer 8

pain inhibition
full thickness tear of rotator cuff - mainly supraspinatus

Question 9

Result of empty can test: slow lowering of affected arm.
What does this mean?

Answer 9

rotator cuff muscle weakness
pain inhibition