When a client shows a positive sign for the Hawkins-Kennedy test, what injury is most likely indicated?

When a client shows a positive sign for the Hawkins-Kennedy test, what injury is most likely indicated?

• A. Rotator cuff tear
• B. Shoulder dislocation
• C. Shoulder impingement
• D. Fractured clavicle

Answer: (C)

The Hawkins-Kennedy test is specifically designed to assess for shoulder impingement, which occurs when the shoulder's tendons take up excessive space and become irritated or impinged upon during arm elevation. When a client exhibits a positive sign in this test, it typically indicates that there is pain during movement, suggesting that the structures around the shoulder are not functioning smoothly due to narrowing in the subacromial space. The test involves forward flexing the client's shoulder to 90 degrees and then internally rotating the arm. The elicitation of pain during this maneuver demonstrates that the rotator cuff tendons and/or the biceps tendon might be getting pinched or compressed as the arm moves. This is strongly associated with shoulder impingement syndrome, making it the most likely injury indicated by a positive Hawkins-Kennedy test result. While other conditions like a rotator cuff tear, shoulder dislocation, or fractured clavicle involve shoulder pain and may present with specific clinical signs, they are not typically diagnosed through this particular test. Thus, recognizing the Hawkins-Kennedy test's specific relationship to shoulder impingement is crucial for accurate assessment and diagnosis.

The Hawkins-Kennedy test is specifically designed to assess for shoulder impingement, which occurs when the shoulder's tendons take up excessive space and become irritated or impinged upon during arm elevation. When a client exhibits a positive sign in this test, it typically indicates that there is pain during movement, suggesting that the structures around the shoulder are not functioning smoothly due to narrowing in the subacromial space.

The test involves forward flexing the client's shoulder to 90 degrees and then internally rotating the arm. The elicitation of pain during this maneuver demonstrates that the rotator cuff tendons and/or the biceps tendon might be getting pinched or compressed as the arm moves. This is strongly associated with shoulder impingement syndrome, making it the most likely injury indicated by a positive Hawkins-Kennedy test result.

While other conditions like a rotator cuff tear, shoulder dislocation, or fractured clavicle involve shoulder pain and may present with specific clinical signs, they are not typically diagnosed through this particular test. Thus, recognizing the Hawkins-Kennedy test's specific relationship to shoulder impingement is crucial for accurate assessment and diagnosis.