Empty Can Test
Original Editor - Tyler Shultz
Top Contributors - Rachael Lowe, Laura Ritchie, Kim Jackson, Tyler Shultz, Albert Alonso, Kai A. Sigel, Admin, WikiSysop, Vanessa Rhule, Claire Knott, Wanda van Niekerk, Anas Mohamed, Jonathan Wong, Evan Thomas and Naomi O'Reilly
Purpose[edit | edit source]
The Empty Can Test is used to assess for lesions of the supraspinatus muscle and supraspinatus tendon.
Technique[1][edit | edit source]
The patient can be seated or standing for this test. The patient's arm should be elevated to 90 degrees in the scapular plane, with the elbow extended, full internal rotation, and pronation of the forearm. This results in a thumbs-down position, as if the patient were pouring liquid out of a can. The therapist should stabilize the shoulder while applying a downwardly directed force to the arm, the patient tries to resist this motion. This test is considered positive if the patient experiences pain or weakness with resistance.
Jobe/Empty Can Test video provided by Clinically Relevant |
Evidence[edit | edit source]
Boettcher CE, et al.[3] demonstrated with normalized EMG that the Empty Can Test activates supraspinatus to levels approximately 90% MVC. Concurrent activation of other shoulder muscles tested including other rotator cuff muscles (infraspinatus and upper subscapularis), scapular positioning muscles (upper, middle and lower trapezius, and serratus anterior), and abduction torque producing muscles (anterior, middle & posterior deltoid) were activated to similarly high levels.
Therefore, the Empty Can Test must be questioned as a valid diagnostic tool for isolated supraspinatus pathology, due to the high activation of many shoulder muscles simultaneously.
Empty can test as sensitivities of 88.6% and specificities of 58.8% in diagnosing the supraspinatus tendon tear.[4]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Jobe, F.W., Moynes D.R. (1982) Delineation of diagnostic criteria and a rehabilitation program for rotator cuff injuries. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 10, 336-339
- ↑ Clinically Relevant. Jobe / Empty Can Test | Shoulder Impingement. Available from: https://members.physio-pedia.com/techniques/examination-techniques/?test=152
- ↑ Boettcher CE, Ginn KA, Cathers I. The ‘empty can’ and ‘full can’ tests do not selectively activate supraspinatus. J Sci Med Sport (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2008.09.005
- ↑ Ackmann T, Schneider KN, Schorn D, Rickert C, Gosheger G, Liem D. Comparison of efficacy of supraspinatus tendon tears diagnostic tests: a prospective study on the "full-can," the "empty-can," and the "Whipple" tests [published online ahead of print, 2019 Nov 5]. Musculoskelet Surg. 2019;10.1007/s12306-019-00631-0. doi:10.1007/s12306-019-00631-0
