Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the COMLEX-USA with quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Gear up for your osteopathic medicine exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is tested with Jobe's test?

Elbow stability
Wrist strength
Supraspinatus strength
Cross-body range of motion

The correct answer is: Supraspinatus strength

Jobe's test, also known as the empty can test, is specifically designed to assess the strength and integrity of the supraspinatus muscle, which is one of the rotator cuff muscles. The test is conducted while the patient raises their arms in the scapular plane (approximately 30 degrees forward from the frontal plane) and then resists downward pressure from the examiner. A weakness or pain during this maneuver suggests an issue with the function of the supraspinatus, which plays a critical role in shoulder abduction and stabilization. Understanding the purpose of Jobe's test allows for effective evaluation of potential rotator cuff injuries, particularly tears or tendonitis of the supraspinatus muscle. This focus on the supraspinatus differentiates it from assessments related to elbow stability, wrist strength, or cross-body range of motion, which involve different joints or muscle groups and would require different testing methods.