Test Yourself for Supraspinatus Tear 

I've been diagnosed with a full supraspinatas tendon tear. However, I still have full movement and still manage, for example,120 pushups (4 sets of 30) and 32 chinups ( 4 sets of 8). I passed both these tests witout any problem, pain or concern at all. I have no real pain except when I move suddenly or my shoulder is suddenly jolted. I have trouble with some specific exercises like dips or shoulder press. I'm 50 years old. The shoulder surgeon has suggested surgery (because of the MRI result). I'm petrified. I don't want this. I feel like the surgeon who diagnosed me can't be fully correct, but I can't dispute the MRI. I trust this youtube site for advice. What would people do? Surgery and maybe never FULL recovery OR no surgery and maybe never quite normal again? Maybe just downhill despite feeling ok now? Thanks infinitely for any comments.

Nice job! thanks!

Oh man, thanks. I severed my supraspinatus tendon at the insertion point on my right shoulder 25 years ago. In a recent accident I assumed that I tore my left supraspinatus musle because the symptoms (pain on attempting to raise the arm) were similar. Now obviously 25 years ago it was impossibe to raise the arm. Again, much thanks.

Good man. Thank you.

Hi. I’m searching and watching because I have a tear. It occurred 17 days ago. A slip and fall on really slick surface, raining here in the Philippines. I’ve had similar injury before from skiing, on both shoulders, different times. Every time, my shoulders slowly regained motion and strength and healed back to normal function. This current injury allowed no movement and I used a sling for the first 5 days. Since I am slowly getting more and more range, with less pain. I’m confident it is the supraspinatus that is the affected area. I’m now able to lift my elbow to shoulder height, unassisted, before pain stops me. The drop test,, would have been impossible to perform in the days immediately after the injury, now I can hold my arm at shoulder height while experiencing some pain, both in front of me and out to the side. Every test for the other muscles of the rotator cuff seem to indicate that it is only the supraspinadus affected. I guess I’m looking for encouraging words that I am on the right track, and a complete tear would not allow this much healing and progress in the 17 days. I’m 62, and remember this injury healing faster years ago, but I was younger. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks..

thank you

Have you hard of the arc test and empty can test, also for Supraspinatus. Thanks for sharing yours. I'm a massage therapist student and trying to get more information.

I had this shoulder surgery at 60 years old. It's been 7 years now. When my therapist was looking at my folder from the surgeon. I saw a stunned reaction as he was reading. I ask him why he reacted. He said he'd never seen my surgeon's report with a SEVERLY torn supraspinatus. DR later told me it was almost severed. 8 years later. I still can't pick up over 5 lbs straight out. I went to therapy for 6 months.I ripped mine yanking hard on a big chainsaw. The rope free wheeled about a foot or so and hung up. I yanked the cord in two. Dr told me in 6 months. I'd be back to work. WRONG

Hi. I appreciate your channel when i subbed a few months ago. I had an MRI done with my results below. Could you please make suggestions for what video to watch or any tips? I’m seeing many health professionals and seeing what my options and timetable for a full recovery are. Thanks! IMPRESSION: Supraspinatus low-grade partial thickness articular surface tearing with central propagation along the intrasubstance. Findings superimposed on insertional tendinopathy which extends into the anterior infraspinatus.

Thank you

So I'm pretty sure I have a supraspinatus tear. I have a few of the symptoms such as clicking and cracking of the bones and the deep ache around the upper back of my shoulder. It's not painful at all when I lift and doesn't feel weak. None of the tests on the video reproduced pain. Is it a very slight tear that's worth getting surgery? I injured it probably 3 years ago and only had 2 occasions where I had intense pain and it had happened both times with a lot of force directly between my neck and shoulder. When I did experience the extreme pain it felt like my trap muscle or maybe just below/beside it with the pain lasting for less than 10 seconds. I'm getting an MRI soon but if I could hear your opinion on it, that would be great. Thanks

I have some pain, worse at night that wakes me up. I took a spill on my mountain bike in late August. Landed on my shoulder but was not so bad to seek medical attention. I build houses and never really rested it. I continued to trail run, and had a big September (50 miler, 33 miler, and a 28 miler plus lots of 6-10 milers in between), as well as doing construction, and pain did not get worse. So, I trusted my body to heal itself and stayed active. Lately I was pulling wires while wiring a new house and that aggravated the issue. The pain makes it hard to lift my arm above my head, and is near the rear/back of right shoulder. I believe it is inflamed from that particular motion. Any advice? Of course, wanting to avoid surgery. I did have a left shoulder injury 10 years ago, and it ached for 3-4 years, but finally fully healed with no medical intervention. Thank you!

Ive developed a 12mm thin tear in my suprasprantus after having it repaired. I dont want another surgery, what wouod you suggest exercise wise.

I would like to know sir, when i lift my right arm to 90 degree to front, it hurts, but when i let it fall it doesnt hurt at all, plus its cracking when i lift it and rotate the shoulder (like rotating when doing a thumbs up and down with stretched arm), what could possibly wrong here? Thank you for your time sir

Hi Eric, when I do these tests, this is what I experience. More discomfort at the inner top of my shoulder, the back of my shoulder closest to my neck and all the way up the side and back of my neck on the left. My shoulder/s are causing issues with my neck/pulling if you will on the left side. I believe it is the upper traps and levator causing all this tension pulling b/c I believe my shoulder/s are destabilized. The only arm discomfort and it’s really not even discomfort is outer bicep are slightly tender and inner bicep area opposite my armpit feels restricted. Also tightness in my clavicle closet to my neck. I do have forward rounded shoulder on that side. Do you have any thoughts , does this sound like a tear? Do you do consultations if I can’t figure this out?

How do you know if it is a tear. Do you just let your sore shoulder drop on it's own.

i have grade 2 and this test didnt work, is it only straight after tear. i cant get my chest (bench destroy it with pain, but all chest exercises are dodgy) and shoulder press back.. been trying for ages. i can bench 160kg and injury reduced me to 40kgs, shoulders before injury 100kgs now fails at 60kgs.. i had outside tricep head tear , but strength there good now. majority of pain is side arm brachalis, at bottom of delt, down brachalis. i have to warm up arms for 20mins even in leg days now to keep them safe or can be triggered and flared up. even with kids playing i have to do a bit of warm up. i do all the standard rotator warm up. any ideas.

Dear sir, I have 30% partial thickness supraspinatus tear....it is curable without surgery ? And how much time it takes . Kindly advise Thanks

I tried the two tests and I didn't get any pain. But, I do have pain on the side of the upper arm just below the corner of the shoulder. I feel some tightness when I fold my arm.. I am not able to sleep on that side of the shoulder. Any idea what could be the reason?

Hi doc please help me in this.I was doing incline dumbbell presses when I felt something w my shoulder.I got an MRI done.MRI showed 1)mild supraspinatus tendinosis 2)mild acromioclavicular tendinopathy(thinning of cartilage) 3)thickening of CHL. I went to the doctor he advised some collagen sachets and physio.Do you think all of this is serious and when can I start gymming again?I really set some serious goals for myself:(When do you think all of this can heal?😭🙏🏻

I was told my muscle, tendon was detected and retracted. When it happened I could not lift my arm. I didn't go to the doctor, now they say its to late there's nothing that can be done. I was wondering if there is some exercise i could do to strengthen the other muscles so i don't have so much pain trying to use my arm.

Hi dear I pass this both test without pain but when I do dumbbell fly I have pain plz advise and my MRI reports saying ( Visualised shoulder joint reveals near full-thickness articular surface tear involving subscapularis tendon with moderate fatty atrophy of subscapularis muscle.) plz help out this counfusion

i feel like suffering from Supraspinatus after these tests, cud u plz help me with some exercises to recover from it

Hello Eric i fell from motorcycle and in Mr it says Supraspinatus tendon footprint tendinozis so what does Footprint tendinozis mean?

thank you so much - I tore my left shoulder from an otherwise minor mtn bike wipeout - found your article on your website for rehab - will start doing the exercises as soon as i am able. question: still in pain (thinking its a grade 1-2) but can lift my arm. its been 18 days since injury - is that pretty normal? and should i wait to start rehab until pain subsides?

Doc i am a competitive bench press with shoulder problems. have done all testing and no pain. I do have pain with certain movements. Is it possible that I make a video with all the movements that I have pain in to show what could be the problem?

Please help ...........MRI REPORT OBSERVATIONS - Partial thickness articular sided rim rent tear of supraspinatus tendon is seen having an (AP dimension of 16 mm).The footprint of supraspinatous tendon shows hyperintense signals on T1 & PD SPAIR sequences .

I have made an ultrasound test and it shows there is some inflammation in the supraspinatus. I have pain while I am doing most of the push exercise and some of pull exercise. I performed the test that you explained in the video but I haven't felt any great pain. but the first test I felt so weak to raise my arm however no any significant pain. I feel uncomfortable to raise my arm to grab something from my kitchen for example, I also feel uncomfortable while I am sleeping. any advice would be highly appreciated. thanks

Hi I tried both exam test I pass without any pain but still I have pain when I m lifting damble or flying bamble why

My shoulder hurt mildly with the first test. With the second one, it hurt in the way up but no pain on the drop. Does that still mean supraspinatus injury?

Quick question, I've been doing full can exercises wayy above 90 degrees and my left shoulder blade area is in a lot of pain. Lots and lots of pain and discomfort. My right is fine but my left is fucked up. Is this indicative of a supraspinatus injury of some sort?

I have a 17mm tear im on a wait list for surgery. My pain seems to be getting worse, but the surgeon says it's ok to wait a few months. I'm worried it will get way worse requiring major surgery instead of orthoscopic

I dont understand what the problem is with my shoulder. It happened during free style wrestling where i landed on my shoulder and it caused extreme pain. Soon after i visited the physio who said it wasnt a dislocation. The only problem that i face now is that whenever im doing any movement that involves bring my shoulder down in a pull over manner or say in a manner where you pull down a rope it feels as tho something rips in my shoulder. I have absolutely zero pain in doing any of the weight training movements involving bench press shoulder press but barbell squat feels a bit uncomfortable. I don’t understand what the problem and it keeps happening again and again after which i have to rest my shoulder for two days due to soreness. When im doing a pullover motion it feels like my shoulder pops out and pops back in and something overlaps inside my shoulder . A month after the injury when i had recovered and there was no pain ( i resumed my weight training a week after the injury and the shoulder had zero pain during any conventional movements such as push up pull ups bench oressc)out i was grappling with a friend and pulled his arm down and heard a tear like sound, rested for two three days back to normal after that it happened when i jumped over the fence as i tensed my body and pulled my shoulder down i heard the same tearing sound again. It leads to soreness and immediate pain which lasts only 3-5 secons after which it is just sore. The pain is felt in the front delt. Please if you could answer. I have visited the physio multiple times and he has said its a front delt injury and just asks me to stretch it and rest i dont know what to do. Every single time ive heard the tear sound its after giving my shoulder adequate rest where it feels as tho its back to normal because of no pain but than again in any fast pull over movement a sharp pain is felt in my shoulder and i hear a tearing sound.

Weight lifter for a long time just started getting shoulder issues that have lasted me 4 months now.. had painful lateral movements, now it's not that painful but I hear clicking when I raise my arm laterally, and have some discomfort if I do any over head or incline presses. Can you assist me with what you think this is and how to rehab it? I'm currently doing stretching and external rotation work and taking a prescribed anti inflammatory for it.

Okey, i have been searching this little pain in my shoulder. I did these tests over and over and nothing happens but i did some inappropriate movements i feel a little pain. Here is the thing, while doing face pulls or sleeping in face pulls arm position makes me relief. Why this happens? Sir, would you please explain me why and what to do? Thanks

These test didn’t really show anything for me. What’s wierd is that my supraspinatus is almost completely gone on my left shoulder compared to my right one. And the strenght in certain movements is also gone. For example; holding my arm 90 degrees and into my body, and rotating outwards, this is nearly impossible on my left arm. Have you heard about this and do you know what it is or what I can do to fix it?

I done that but feel pain in my forearm!? What's that?!

Hello Doctor! i think i may have a rotator cuff injury, 1 week ago i did a test in a video, wich was lifting your arm behind your back and it HURT A LOT(sharp pain), and also i did a pointing down thumbs arm raise and it hurt too, after this week, i can do both without pain, but i still feel pain in my shoulder. Should i go get attention or rest for some weeks? Thanks!

I have a full supraspinatus tear verified through MRI and I can do both of those tests without failing Doesnt make sense, does it?

Would a supraspinatus tear be seen on an MRI of the shoulder?

Hey. I don't have any pain at all when i do these movements. But when i train it hurts sometimes. I've been waiting for a month not training. Should i wait more or train? Please help, thank you.

i accually teared my supraspinatus but i tried both of these test and only the first one hurt...

I feel pain on the first test only when i let my arm go is it supra?

Does this also work for SSP-tendonis ?

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Test 1 didn't hurt but 2 did. Another test is pouring a cup of coffee, that hurts like the dickens.

With the Zero Degree Abduction Test i felt a bit of pain...so what can i do so this mean i need a doctor ?

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pretty sure I just have impingement