Quick Answer: The Jobe test, also called the empty can test, is a quick shoulder exam that checks the supraspinatus, one of the four rotator cuff muscles. A clinician raises the arm to about 90 degrees, turns it so the thumb points down, then presses down while the patient resists. Pain or weakness suggests a possible rotator cuff problem. On its own the test is not a diagnosis. One pooled review found a sensitivity near 77 percent and a specificity near 67 percent, so it works best paired with a full exam and imaging.
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The Jobe test, also called the empty can test, is a quick shoulder exam that checks the supraspinatus, one of the four rotator cuff muscles. If shoulder pain is keeping you up at night or making it hard to reach overhead, you want to know what is going on. The Jobe test is often one of the first things a clinician checks when they suspect a rotator cuff problem. It is fast, it needs no equipment, and it gives a useful early clue about the supraspinatus muscle and tendon.
Here is what I tell my patients. A single test rarely tells the whole story. After more than twenty years caring for patients in Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and across Middle Tennessee, I have learned that the best answers come from putting several pieces together: your history, a hands-on exam, and the right imaging when it is needed. The Jobe test is one of those pieces, and a helpful one.
What is the Jobe test?
The Jobe test is a hands-on shoulder exam that checks the supraspinatus, one of the four rotator cuff muscles. The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons that hold the ball of your shoulder in its socket and help you lift and rotate your arm. The supraspinatus sits across the top of the shoulder and helps raise the arm away from your body.
Two shoulder doctors, Dr. Frank Jobe and Dr. Diane Moynes, described the test back in 1982. They were studying how to spot and rehab rotator cuff injuries in athletes. The position they chose puts the supraspinatus under load, so it has to work harder than the muscles around it.
You may also hear it called the empty can test. That nickname comes from the arm position. When your thumb points down, your hand looks like you are tipping over a can to empty it.
Why does the supraspinatus matter so much? It is the cuff muscle most often injured, and it does a lot of quiet work. Every time you reach for a shelf, lift a bag, or raise your arm to wash your hair, the supraspinatus is helping. When it is irritated or torn, those simple moves start to hurt or feel weak.
How is the Jobe test done?
The Jobe test takes only a few seconds and follows four simple steps. You can sit or stand for it.
- Raise the arm. You lift your arm to about 90 degrees, roughly shoulder height, and bring it forward about 30 degrees, into the plane of your shoulder blade rather than straight out to the side.
- Turn the thumb down. You rotate your arm inward so your thumb points toward the floor. This is the empty can position.
- Resist the pressure. The clinician places a hand on your forearm and presses down gently while you hold your arm up and resist.
- Watch for pain and weakness. The clinician looks for both, and usually tests both arms to compare your sore side to your good side.
That comparison matters. Small differences in strength are easy to miss without a side-by-side check. I also watch how the shoulder blade moves and whether you shrug or shift to cheat the motion, since those habits can hide what the muscle is really doing.
What does a positive Jobe test mean?
A positive Jobe test means you felt pain, showed weakness, or both when resisting the downward pressure. That points toward a problem with the supraspinatus, which can range from irritation and tendinopathy (a worn or degenerated tendon) to a partial or full tear.
A positive Jobe test is a clue, not a final diagnosis
A positive result does not tell us exactly what is wrong or how bad it is. Pain alone might come from inflammation or impingement, where the tendon gets pinched under the bony arch of the shoulder. Weakness can mean a larger tear, but it can also come from pain making you guard the arm.
Here is the honest part I share in clinic. The supraspinatus does not fire by itself during this test. Research using muscle sensors shows the deltoid and several other shoulder muscles switch on at the same time. So the test loads the supraspinatus, but it is not a clean, isolated reading of that one muscle. That is one reason a positive result is a starting point, not a finish line.
How accurate is the Jobe test?
The Jobe test is a useful screen, not a final answer. Pooled research puts its sensitivity around 77 percent and its specificity around 67 percent for rotator cuff problems. In plain terms, it catches many true problems but also flags some shoulders that turn out to be fine.
Accuracy shifts depending on what you measure. Checking for weakness tends to catch more true tears (higher sensitivity), while pain plus weakness together tends to produce fewer false alarms (higher specificity). No single version of the test is strong enough to stand alone.
It also helps to know what sensitivity and specificity mean for you. A sensitive test is good at catching a problem when one is present, so a negative result is reassuring. A specific test is good at confirming a problem is real, so a positive result carries more weight. The Jobe test lands in the middle on both, which is why I read it alongside everything else.
That is why I never hang a diagnosis on one maneuver. I combine the Jobe test with other shoulder checks, your symptoms, and imaging when the picture calls for it.
Empty can versus full can: what is the difference?
The empty can and full can tests use almost the same setup, with one change: thumb direction. In the empty can test your thumb points down. In the full can test your thumb points up, which many patients find more comfortable and which can ease pinching under the shoulder arch.
Both versions load the supraspinatus. Some clinicians prefer the full can because it tends to provoke less pain, while others use the empty can because it can be more sensitive for catching a problem. In my practice I often use both and weigh them together.
Neither test replaces the other. They are two views of the same muscle, and using them side by side gives a fuller read.
What happens after a positive Jobe test?
After a positive Jobe test, the next step is to confirm what is causing your symptoms. I start with a careful history and a few more shoulder exams, such as checks for impingement and for the other rotator cuff muscles.
When the exam suggests a tear or the pain is not improving, imaging helps. An ultrasound or an MRI can show the tendon directly and tell us whether a tear is present, how big it is, and whether it is partial or full thickness. Plain X-rays do not show the tendon, but they help rule out arthritis or bone spurs.
From there, treatment depends on what we find. Many rotator cuff problems improve with physical therapy, activity changes, and time. Some respond to a cortisone injection to calm inflammation. Larger or persistent tears may need surgery to repair the tendon. The right path is the one that fits your tear, your goals, and your daily life.
I want patients to feel relief here, not alarm. Most shoulder pain is treatable, and many people get better without surgery. The goal of the exam is simply to point us toward the plan most likely to work for you.
When should you see a doctor about shoulder pain?
You should see a doctor if shoulder pain lasts more than a couple of weeks, wakes you at night, or limits everyday tasks like reaching, lifting, or dressing. Sudden weakness after a fall or a hard pull on the arm also deserves a prompt look, since that can signal a tear.
Shoulder pain that lingers rarely fixes itself once a tendon is involved. The sooner we identify the cause, the more options you usually have, and the better your odds of avoiding a bigger problem down the road.
If you are dealing with stubborn shoulder pain in Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, or anywhere in Middle Tennessee, a focused evaluation can tell you where you stand and what to do next. You can request an appointment with Dr. Calendine here, or call our office at (615) 791-2630.
The bottom line on the Jobe test
The Jobe test is a fast, simple way to check the supraspinatus and screen for rotator cuff trouble. A positive result, pain or weakness with resistance, is a signal worth following up, not a verdict.
What I want you to take away is this. One test is a clue. Good shoulder care comes from reading the whole picture, your story, your exam, and imaging when it helps. If your shoulder is holding you back, do not wait it out. Let us find out what is going on and get you moving again.
Dr. Cory Calendine, MD is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, 3000 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067. Phone: (615) 791-2630.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Please talk with a qualified orthopaedic provider about your specific symptoms and treatment options.
References
- Jobe FW, Moynes DR. Delineation of diagnostic criteria and a rehabilitation program for rotator cuff injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1982;10(6):336-339. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7180953/
- Itoi E, Kido T, Sano A, Urayama M, Sato K. Which is more useful, the full can test or the empty can test, in detecting the torn supraspinatus tendon? Am J Sports Med. 1999;27(1):65-68. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9934421/
- Hegedus EJ, Goode AP, Cook CE, et al. Which physical examination tests provide clinicians with the most value when examining the shoulder? Update of a systematic review with meta-analysis of individual tests. Br J Sports Med. 2012;46(14):964-978. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22773322/
- Katepun S, Boonsun P, Srikhum Boonsaeng W, Apivatgaroon A. Reliability of the single-arm and double-arm Jobe test for the diagnosis of full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear. Orthop J Sports Med. 2023;11(8):23259671231187631. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10422910/
- Boettcher CE, Ginn KA, Cathers I. The empty can and full can tests do not selectively activate supraspinatus. J Sci Med Sport. 2009;12(4):435-439. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18768361/
- Rotator cuff tears. OrthoInfo. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/rotator-cuff-tears/
