What does a pain near end range in Neer's test suggest?

What does a pain near end range in Neer's test suggest?

• A. Absence of pain indicates rotator cuff tear.
• B. Pain at start of movement indicates adhesive capsulitis.
• C. Pain during internal rotation indicates biceps tendinopathy.
• D. Pain near end range suggests impingement of rotator cuff tendons or subacromial bursa.

Answer: (D)

Neer’s test targets subacromial impingement by moving the arm into forward flexion while stabilizing the scapula. As the arm reaches end range, the humeral head is pressed upward against the coracoacromial arch, narrowing the subacromial space. That compression irritates and/or squeezes the rotator cuff tendons (especially the supraspinatus) and the subacromial bursa. The resulting pain at near end range is the classic sign of impingement. Other patterns of pain point to different issues: pain at the very start of movement can suggest capsular tightness or adhesive capsulitis, and pain with internal rotation may point toward biceps tendinopathy or other pathology. A negative test (no pain) makes impingement less likely.

Neer’s test targets subacromial impingement by moving the arm into forward flexion while stabilizing the scapula. As the arm reaches end range, the humeral head is pressed upward against the coracoacromial arch, narrowing the subacromial space. That compression irritates and/or squeezes the rotator cuff tendons (especially the supraspinatus) and the subacromial bursa. The resulting pain at near end range is the classic sign of impingement.

Other patterns of pain point to different issues: pain at the very start of movement can suggest capsular tightness or adhesive capsulitis, and pain with internal rotation may point toward biceps tendinopathy or other pathology. A negative test (no pain) makes impingement less likely.