College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

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After testing abduction in neutral, into what position is the shoulder brought for the Empty Can/Jobe Test?

Laterally Rotated
Medially Rotated
Horizontally Abducted
Flexed at 90 degrees

The correct answer is: Medially Rotated

The Empty Can or Jobe Test is used to assess the integrity of the supraspinatus muscle and the subacromial space, particularly in cases of rotator cuff pathology. After first testing shoulder abduction in a neutral position, the shoulder is then brought into a position where it is medially rotated. This medially rotated position involves the arm being positioned in front of the body, with the thumb pointing downwards, which simulates the emptying of a can. By testing the muscle in this position, the supraspinatus is isolated, and any pain or weakness can indicate a potential tear or issue within the rotator cuff. The choice of moving the shoulder into medially rotated position is critical because it places the supraspinatus in a position of maximal contraction against the resistance, making it the best position to test for any impairment related to this muscle. In contrast, laterally rotating or horizontally abducting the shoulder does not effectively isolate the supraspinatus and may cause a false negative in testing. Flexing the arm at 90 degrees also does not provide the same level of specificity needed to evaluate the supraspinatus.