Physical Exam

Empty Can Test

also known as Jobe's test

🎬

Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

With the patient's arms abducted to 90° in the scapular plane (about 30° forward of straight out to the side) and fully internally rotated so the thumbs point down (as if emptying a can), apply a downward force while the patient resists. A positive test is weakness or pain.

How to Interpret

Subacromial Impingement

Empty can test positive

Rule in

Minimally helpful

Rule out

Somewhat helpful

Evidence:Strong

Supraspinatus Tear

Empty can (Jobe / supraspinatus) test positive with weakness against resistance

Rule in

Somewhat helpful

Rule out

Minimally helpful

Evidence:Strong

Supraspinatus Tendinopathy

Empty can (Jobe) test positive with weakness against resistance

Rule in

Not helpful

Rule out

Not helpful

Evidence:Limited

References

Balevi Batur E, Bekin Sarikaya PZ, Kaygisiz ME, Albayrak Gezer I, Levendoglu F. Diagnostic Dilemma: Which Clinical Tests Are Most Accurate for Diagnosing Supraspinatus Muscle Tears and Tendinosis When Compared to Magnetic Resonance Imaging? Cureus. 2022 Jun 13;14(6):e25903. doi:10.7759/cureus.25903. PMID: 35844349. PMCID: PMC9278872. Open access, CC BY 4.0.
Gismervik SO, Drogset JO, Granviken F, Ro M, Leivseth G. Physical examination tests of the shoulder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test performance. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017 Jan 25;18(1):41. doi:10.1186/s12891-017-1400-0. PMID: 28122541. PMCID: PMC5267375. Open access, CC BY 4.0 license. Independently verified during BedsideDx Scope B audit cascade #37 (2026-05-14) via direct retrieval of the full text at PMC5267375: Table 2 'Supraspinatus full thickness only' subgroup matches the values in this finding exactly (sens 0.60 CI 0.46-0.72, spec 0.70 CI 0.61-0.78, DOR 3.50 CI 1.74-7.02, accuracy 0.66 CI 0.58-0.73, LR+ 2.00, LR- 0.57; 2 studies). Gismervik's Table 2 footnote 'd' specifies the supraspinatus test was the only test in the rotator cuff tear category where pooling was possible and that 'Weakness indicates positive test' — the pooled values reflect studies that used weakness (not pain) as the criterion for a positive empty-can test.
Alqunaee M, Galvin R, Fahey T. Diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests for subacromial impingement syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012;93(2):229-236. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2011.08.035. PMID 22289231. DARE quality-assessed (NBK91532). PRISMA-style systematic review; bivariate random-effects meta-analysis; QUADAS; 10 studies, 1684 patients; arthroscopy or open surgery reference standard.
Jobe FW, Moynes DR. Delineation of diagnostic criteria and a rehabilitation program for rotator cuff injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1982;10(6):336-339.