Safe self-observation

Painful arc self-observation

Notice whether pain appears in a particular part of the range as you lift your arm sideways.

ℹ Additional explanation

RED — seek emergency care

Stop if pain is sharp, travels down the arm, or the shoulder feels like it may slip.

Purpose	Notice whether pain appears in a particular part of the range as you lift your arm sideways.
Structures assessed	Supraspinatus Subacromial bursa
Equipment	None
Procedure	Stand in front of a mirror. Slowly lift the painful arm out to the side, thumb up, as far as comfortable. Note where pain starts and stops (e.g. "between shoulder and head height") and whether it eases higher up. Lower slowly. Do not push into pain above 3/10.
What you may notice	Pain mainly in the middle of the lift is commonly reported with subacromial and cuff problems.
Interpretation	This is a description of your symptoms to share with a clinician—not a diagnosis.
Limitations	Many shoulder neck and joint problems can hurt in mid-range Does not identify tears or their size No single test is definitive.

Used for