Shoulder
Rotator Cuff
Evidence: confirmed
Whipple Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Diagnosing Partial-Thickness Supraspinatus Tears.
How to Perform
- Position: Arm flexed to 90° and adducted until the hand is opposite the contralateral shoulder.
- Action: Patient resists a downward force.
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Pain or weakness. This position compresses the articular surface of the cuff.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Sensitivity: 88%
Clinical Context & Limitations
The Whipple Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Shoulder region, combining the Whipple Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic Physical Assessment.
