Hawkins Test

The Hawkins Test is named after Dr. Kennedy Hawkins, an American orthopedic surgeon who described the test in 1980.

To perform the Hawkins Test, the patient stands or sits upright with the arm to be tested at the side of their body. The examiner flexes the patient's arm to 90 degrees at the elbow, elevates the arm to 90 degrees at the shoulder, and then internally rotates the patient's arm by pushing down on the patient's wrist. During this movement, the examiner notes any pain or discomfort reported by the patient.

The Hawkins Test is used to diagnose impingement of the rotator cuff and other structures in the shoulder joint. A positive test may suggest the presence of rotator cuff impingement or other shoulder joint pathology.