Jobe test

The Jobe test is a physical examination of the shoulder named after the American orthopedic surgeon Frank Jobe. Jobe is widely known for elbow surgery and shoulder treatment for baseball players. The test bearing his name has long been used in shoulder care, rehabilitation, and sports medicine.

The name “empty can” comes from the test position. The arms are rotated inward so that the thumbs point toward the floor, as though tipping a beverage can to empty it. A modified position with the thumbs pointing upward is called the “full can test,” and the two positions are often used together.

The rotator cuff is a group of four small muscles surrounding the shoulder. Among them, the supraspinatus muscle originates at the upper part of the shoulder blade, helps with the initial phase of lifting the arm out to the side, and helps keep the head of the upper arm bone stable within the joint.

The Jobe test places a substantial load on this muscle. The arms are raised to shoulder height slightly in front of the torso (about 30 degrees forward from directly out to the sides), then rotated so that the thumbs point toward the floor. As you resist the examiner's downward pressure in this position, the examiner observes arm strength, whether pain occurs, and whether it is difficult to hold the position. These responses provide clues about the condition of the supraspinatus muscle.

1. Get into position — While sitting or standing, straighten both arms and raise them diagonally in front of your torso to shoulder height. 2. Turn your thumbs — Rotate your arms inward so that your thumbs point toward the floor. 3. Resist the pressure — The examiner presses down on your arms just above the wrists while you try to keep them at the same height. 4. Observe the response — The examiner compares the strength of both arms and checks for a feeling of weakness, pain, or trembling of the arms.

The examiner starts with light pressure and adjusts the amount of force so that it does not exceed your level of discomfort. If pain suddenly increases during the test, let the examiner know right away.

• People with pain at the top or outside of the shoulder when lifting the arm out to the side
• People who find it uncomfortable to put objects overhead or put on and take off clothes
• People who participate in overhead sports such as baseball, volleyball, or swimming
• People whose jobs involve frequent use of their shoulders

• It is one part of a comprehensive shoulder assessment. The Jobe test alone is not usually used to make a judgment. The range through which you can raise your arm, other rotator cuff tests, the condition of your neck, and imaging tests are considered together. It is often performed alongside other tests, such as the drop arm test or Neer impingement test.
• Do not try to relax your shoulder muscles in the test position. You need to use enough strength to maintain the position so that your response can be assessed accurately.
• Report any discomfort right away. Explaining where the pain is and at what angle it occurs helps the examiner better understand your condition.
• The test compares both shoulders. This is why the pain-free side is also tested.
• Do not shrug your shoulders. If your shoulders rise, other muscles take over the effort and change the response.

• Full can test — Performed at the same height with the thumbs pointing upward. It may cause less pain in some cases, so it is sometimes used alongside the Jobe test.
• Drop arm test — Assesses whether the arm can maintain control as it is slowly lowered after being raised out to the side.
• Neer impingement test — The arm is raised forward to check for a feeling of pinching or pain at the top of the shoulder.