The bow test for the subacromial impingement syndrome

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Glenohumeral joint biomechanics dictate that rotator cuff dysfunction causes superior humeral head migration.
• This migration leads to impingement of the greater tubercle against the coraco-acromial arch, irritating the subacromial bursa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the
• bow test
• as a noninvasive clinical diagnostic tool for subacromial impingement syndrome.

Main Methods:

• The study describes the clinical presentation of subacromial impingement, characterized by a painful arc of motion during arm elevation.
• It details the procedure for the
• bow test
• : patients bend forward with the arm hanging, and the painful arc is re-evaluated.

Main Results:

• Pain during active arm elevation against gravity, occurring within a specific arc, is a hallmark of bursal irritation due to impingement.
• The
• bow test
• renders this painful arc painless, indicating subacromial impingement as the cause.

Conclusions:

• The
• bow test
• is a simple, noninvasive clinical test effective in identifying subacromial impingement as the source of shoulder pain within the painful arc.
• This test aids in the clinical diagnosis of shoulder impingement syndrome.