Patte's test is used to assess pathology of which rotator cuff muscle?

• A. Supraspinatus
• B. Infraspinatus
• C. Subscapularis
• D. Teres Minor

Answer: (A)

Patte's test targets the supraspinatus because the maneuver loads the tendon as the arm begins to abduct, bringing the supraspinatus under the acromial arch where it is most vulnerable to pathology. The supraspinatus is the muscle that initiates first 15 degrees of abduction and is the rotator cuff muscle most commonly affected by tendinopathy or tears. When this test reproduces pain or weakness, it points to supraspinatus involvement. Tests for the other cuff muscles use different movements: the infraspinatus is assessed with resisted external rotation, the subscapularis with lifts-off or belly-press maneuvers, and the teres minor with tests like the hornblower sign. So the pattern of stress and the location of tenderness in Patte's test align with supraspinatus pathology.