Summary: Click to Play The empty can test is used to assess for the presence of injury/pathology to the supraspinatus. This test is also known as the supraspinatus strength test. The patient is either seated or standing with his arms in a position of scapation (approximately 30-degrees of horizontal adduction with the shoulders abducted to 90-degrees). The patient attempts to resist downward overpressure being applied by the examiner. A positive result occurs when the patient is unable to resist the force.
