Execution
- 1Position the patient seated or standing with the tested shoulder relaxed.
- 2Palpate through the deltoid over the greater tuberosity / rotator cuff insertion region.
- 3Ask the patient to relax and may place the arm in slight extension or rotation to expose the cuff interval.
- 4Feel for a palpable defect, gap, or rent in the cuff tissue.
- 5Compare tenderness and palpable contour with the opposite shoulder.
Positive outcome
A palpable defect or gap through the deltoid over the rotator cuff insertion is positive. Pain alone without a rent is less specific than a clear palpable defect.
Studies
| Study | Reliability | Sn | Sp | LR+ | LR− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf & Agrawal (2001) | NA | 95.7 | 96.8 | 32 | 0.04 |
CommentThe rent test reports unusually strong diagnostic values for full-thickness rotator cuff tears, but it is palpation-skill dependent and may be harder in large, guarded, or very painful shoulders. A clear positive is valuable, but lack of a palpable gap should not overrule weakness, lag signs, or imaging when clinical suspicion remains high.
High Clinical Value