Clinical inquiries. Which history and physical findings are most useful in identifying rotator cuff tears?

It's unknown which-if any-historical factors are most useful for identifying rotator cuff tears, because no studies evaluating their accuracy with rotator cuff tears have been done. As for physical findings, no single physical examination finding is sensitive or specific enough to detect partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. The combination of the painful arc sign, drop-arm sign, and infraspinatus muscle strength test are helpful in detecting a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. A negative supraspinatus muscle strength test alone is sensitive enough to decrease the likelihood of a significant rotator cuff tear.