The Full Can Test assesses pain and strength during resisted shoulder elevation in the scapular plane with the thumb pointing up. It is often used in rotator cuff-related shoulder assessment, but it does not isolate the supraspinatus or diagnose a rotator cuff tear on its own. Contemporary shoulder examination literature cautions that rotator cuff special tests should be interpreted as part of a broader assessment rather than as structure-specific tests.
A client reports pain when lifting the arm, reaching overhead or pressing. The Empty Can Test may be uncomfortable due to internal rotation, so the Full Can Test can provide another way to assess resisted shoulder elevation in a more externally rotated position.
The result should be recorded as pain, weakness or both. Pain during the Full Can Test does not prove a tendon tear, and weakness may be influenced by pain inhibition, effort, fear or load intolerance.
Test name: Full Can Test
Body region: Shoulder, rotator cuff
Purpose: Assess pain and strength during resisted shoulder elevation in scaption
Positive finding: Familiar pain, weakness or inability to resist compared with the other side
Negative finding: No meaningful pain or weakness during resisted elevation
Best used with: Empty Can Test, Painful Arc, external rotation strength, shoulder ROM and functional loading
Key limitation: It does not isolate the supraspinatus or diagnose a rotator cuff tear on its own
The Full Can Test is performed with the arm elevated in the scapular plane, usually around 90 degrees, with the thumb pointing upward. The professional applies downward resistance while the client attempts to maintain the arm position.
It is similar to the Empty Can Test but uses a different shoulder rotation position.
The test is used when rotator cuff-related shoulder pain, supraspinatus involvement or shoulder elevation weakness is part of the clinical reasoning.
It may be helpful when the Empty Can position is too provocative or when comparing symptoms between different elevation positions.
The test assesses resisted shoulder elevation in a specific position. It may involve supraspinatus, deltoid, infraspinatus, scapular muscles, pain sensitivity and motor control.
It does not identify one specific tissue source.
This test may be useful for clients with shoulder pain during reaching, lifting, pressing, overhead work, sport or gym-based shoulder elevation.
Use when the client can lift the arm to the test position safely and the result will help document pain or weakness during elevation.
Use caution with acute trauma, suspected fracture, recent dislocation, severe pain, recent surgery, inability to raise the arm or high irritability.
Chair or standing space
Pain and strength scale
Measurz recording workflow
Optional handheld dynamometer for related strength testing
Optional comparison side notes
Position the client sitting or standing.
Raise the arm to approximately 90 degrees in the scapular plane with the thumb pointing up.
Stand in front of or beside the client.
Apply resistance over the distal forearm or wrist.
Monitor trunk lean, shoulder shrugging, scapular movement and elbow bending.
Apply downward resistance while the client holds the arm in position.
Ask the client to hold the position and report pain, weakness, familiar symptoms or apprehension.
A positive finding is familiar pain, weakness or inability to resist compared with the other side.
A negative finding is no meaningful pain or weakness during resisted elevation.
Stop if pain increases sharply, the arm gives way, symptoms are not tolerated or compensation dominates.
Record pain and weakness separately. Do not assume pain equals structural tearing.
A positive Full Can Test may support rotator cuff-related shoulder reasoning when it reproduces familiar pain or shows clear weakness compared with the other side.
Pain alone does not identify the supraspinatus. Weakness may reflect pain inhibition, motor control, fear, fatigue or structural involvement.
A negative test does not exclude rotator cuff pathology, particularly if symptoms occur only under higher load, speed or fatigue.
The Full Can Test is used to assess possible supraspinatus tendon involvement in the shoulder. Research suggests it has moderate diagnostic accuracy, with sensitivity reported around 70–75% and specificity ranging from 47–81%. This means the test can be useful, but it should not be relied on by itself. It is best used alongside other shoulder assessments, client history, strength testing, range of motion, and relevant imaging where required.
Reliability depends on arm angle, scapular plane position, thumb position, resistance level, symptom criteria and comparison side.
A 2020 JOSPT viewpoint argued that rotator cuff-related shoulder special tests should not be used to identify exact anatomical tissue sources because multiple muscles and structures contribute during commonly used tests.
Common errors include applying excessive resistance, testing outside the scapular plane, not comparing sides, recording pain and weakness as the same finding and interpreting the test as a specific supraspinatus tear test.
Limitations include poor tissue specificity, pain inhibition, deltoid contribution, scapular influence, effort variation and overlap with other shoulder presentations.
Use the Full Can Test to document shoulder elevation pain and strength response. It is most useful when combined with Empty Can, resisted external rotation, shoulder ROM and functional loading.
Record test name, side tested, result, pain score, symptom location, weakness yes/no, arm angle, scapular plane position, thumb position, resistance level, comparison side, compensation, confidence in result and reason for stopping.
Add related findings such as Empty Can, Painful Arc, infraspinatus test, external rotation strength, shoulder ROM, rotator cuff strength and overhead functional symptoms.
Empty Can Test
Painful Arc
Infraspinatus Test
External Rotation Lag Sign
Drop Arm Test
Shoulder ROM Tests
Shoulder Strength Testing
Neer’s Test
Hawkins-Kennedy Test
It assesses pain and strength during resisted shoulder elevation in the scapular plane.
A positive finding is familiar pain, weakness or inability to resist compared with the other side.
It may be more comfortable for some clients, but it still does not isolate one tendon.
No. It may support clinical reasoning but does not diagnose a tear on its own.
Record side, pain, weakness, arm position, thumb position, resistance level and compensation.
The Full Can Test assesses resisted shoulder elevation.
Pain and weakness should be recorded separately.
It does not isolate the supraspinatus.
Use it with other rotator cuff, ROM and strength findings.
Measurz should capture position, symptoms, weakness and compensation.
Jain, N. B., Luz, J., Higgins, L. D., Dong, Y., Warner, J. J. P., Matzkin, E., Katz, J. N., & ROW Cohort Study Group. (2017). The diagnostic accuracy of special tests for rotator cuff tear: The ROW cohort study. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 96(3), 176–183. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000566
Ackmann, T., Schneider, K. N., Schorn, D., Rickert, C., Gosheger, G., & Liem, D. (2021). Comparison of efficacy of supraspinatus tendon tears diagnostic tests: A prospective study on the “full-can,” the “empty-can,” and the “Whipple” tests. Musculoskeletal Surgery, 105, 149–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-019-00631-0
Powell, J. K., & Lewis, J. S. (2020). It is time to put special tests for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain out to pasture. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 50(5), 222–225.
Zhang, A. L., et al. (2024). Evidence-based approach to the shoulder examination for subacromial bursitis and rotator cuff tears: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25, Article 911.
