Neer Impingement Test: How to Check for Shoulder Impingement

The Neer Impingement Test is a widely used orthopedic special test for the shoulder, designed to assess for Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. Click the sections below for details on how to perform it and what the results mean.

1. Purpose

The primary purpose of the Neer Test is to **test for** Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS). It is designed to compress the supraspinatus tendon and the long head of the biceps tendon between the greater tuberosity and the acromion.

2. How to Perform

1. The patient is positioned in sitting or standing.
2. The examiner stands beside the patient and places one hand on the top of the scapula to stabilize it and prevent its upward rotation.
3. With the other hand, the examiner grasps the patient's arm (at the elbow or wrist) and ensures the arm is fully pronated (internally rotated, with the thumb pointing down).
4. The examiner passively moves the patient's arm through its full range of forward flexion (bringing it straight up overhead).
5. The test is considered positive if the patient reports pain, especially at the end range of motion.

3. Positive & Negative Sign

Positive Sign (Test is POSITIVE):
A positive test (indicating an issue) is:

• Reproduction of the patient's shoulder pain, typically in the anterior or lateral aspect of the shoulder, during the passive overhead motion. This suggests impingement of the rotator cuff tendons or biceps tendon.

Negative Sign (Test is NEGATIVE):
A negative test is the absence of pain during the end-range passive flexion.