Which sign or finding is most closely associated with rotator cuff involvement, as described in common exam maneuvers?

• A. Impingement, Neer's, Empty Can and Drop Test
• B. Finkelstein's Test
• C. Drawer sign
• D. Palpable fissure

Answer: (A)

Rotator cuff problems show up on exam as signs that reflect impingement or weakness of the supraspinatus tendon. The maneuvers described—impingement tests such as Neer’s, along with arm-positions used in the Empty Can (Jobe) test and the drop arm test—are classic for provoking pain or revealing weakness related to the supraspinatus and subacromial impingement. Neer’s test increases compression under the acromion by forward flexing the arm, reproducing the pain that comes from rotator cuff irritation. The Empty Can test isolates the supraspinatus by placing the arm in forward elevation with internal rotation and resisting upward pressure, highlighting weakness or pain when the tendon is stressed. The drop arm test checks the ability to hold the arm fully abducted; failure to maintain that position points toward a supraspinatus tear or significant tendinopathy. These signs together are the most direct way to assess rotator cuff involvement.

Finkelstein’s test targets the first dorsal compartment of the wrist (De Quervain’s), not the shoulder. Drawer sign relates to knee ligament instability, and a palpable fissure is not a standard or specific sign of rotator cuff disease.