The Painful Arc Test primarily assesses which shoulder condition?

• A. Impingement test
• B. Rotator cuff tear
• C. Adhesive capsulitis
• D. AC joint sprain

Answer: (A)

The Painful Arc Test is used to identify subacromial impingement. As the patient abducts the arm, structures in the subacromial space—like the supraspinatus tendon and the subacromial bursa—are compressed between the humeral head and the acromion. If this compression irritates these structures, the patient feels pain specifically in the mid-range of motion, roughly between 60 and 120 degrees of abduction, creating a characteristic “painful arc.” That mid-range pain points toward impingement syndrome rather than a full-thickness rotator cuff tear or other shoulder problems. In contrast, adhesive capsulitis typically shows global, progressive loss of motion with less emphasis on a mid-range painful arc, and AC joint sprain would present with pain localized to the top of the shoulder or with cross-body movements rather than a mid-range arc pain.