Physical Exam

Empty Can Test

also known as Jobe test

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Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

Position the patient’s arms at shoulder height, each angled about 60° outward from straight ahead, with the elbows extended and the thumbs pointing down. Apply downward pressure to the arms while the patient resists. A positive test is shoulder pain or weakness.

How to Interpret

Subacromial Impingement

Empty can (Jobe) test positive

Rule in

Minimally helpful

Rule out

Somewhat helpful

Evidence:Strong

Supraspinatus Tear

Full-thickness Supraspinatus Tear

Empty can (Jobe) test positive with weakness against resistance

Rule in

Somewhat helpfulDerived CI

Rule out

Minimally helpfulDerived CI

Evidence:Limited

Supraspinatus Tendinopathy

Empty can (Jobe) test positive with weakness against resistance

Rule in

Not helpfulDerived CI

Rule out

Not helpfulWide CI

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.
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.
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.

Research last updated September 10, 2026.