What is the purpose of the painful arc test?

• A. To identify painful shoulder abduction range associated with subacromial impingement.
• B. To measure scapular motion.
• C. To evaluate internal rotation strength.
• D. To assess elbow range.

Answer: (A)

The painful arc test screens for subacromial impingement by looking for a painful arc during active shoulder abduction. When the arm is raised in front of the body, pain often appears in the midrange, roughly 60 to 120 degrees of abduction, due to compression of subacromial structures (like the supraspinatus tendon and subacromial bursa) under the acromion. A positive sign here helps identify impingement as the source of shoulder pain, rather than issues with the elbow or other shoulder mechanics. This test isn’t about measuring scapular motion, internal rotation strength, or elbow range, which are addressed by different assessments.