What position is the arm in during the resisted supination external rotation test?

The resisted supination external rotation test is designed to assess for injuries, particularly to the rotator cuff, such as a tear in the supraspinatus muscle or other potential pathologies like labral tears. In this test, the arm is positioned in 90 degrees of shoulder abduction with neutral rotation to appropriately engage the shoulder muscles while allowing for a clear assessment of the function and integrity of the rotator cuff.

In this position, the muscles involved can be clearly evaluated for strength and any pain response during supination and external rotation against resistance. The 90 degrees of abduction provides enough leverage to isolate these movements and allows the therapist to observe any discrepancies in strength or motion that may indicate pathology.

Positioning the arm with shoulder abduction at 90 degrees and keeping the rotation neutral avoids placing undue stress on the shoulder joint, ensuring a focused examination of the supination and external rotation capabilities of the shoulder musculature. This specificity helps in isolating the muscles being tested and facilitates a more accurate diagnostic outcome.