In the Drop Arm special test, what angle does the patient abduct their arm to before lowering it?

The Drop Arm test is utilized to assess the integrity of the rotator cuff, particularly the supraspinatus muscle. During this test, the patient is asked to abduct their arm to approximately 90 degrees. This position places the arm in an optimal angle for isolating the action of the supraspinatus, making it easier to detect any weakness or tear in the muscle. As the arm is slowly lowered from this position, a positive result occurs if the individual is unable to control the descent of their arm, leading to a sudden drop.

The choice indicating 125 degrees is somewhat more generous, as the typical testing position is often cited as around 90 degrees of abduction. Although variations exist based on different methodologies or interpretations, the standard practice centers around 90 degrees due to its effectiveness in evaluating the supraspinatus function clearly and reproducibly. Thus, 90 degrees is critical in delivering the proper clinical assessment of shoulder stability and rotator cuff integrity.