Drop Arm sign in Rotator Cuff Disease

Courtesy: Prof Nabil Ebraheim, University of Toledo, Ohio, USA

Drop Arm Sign

Purpose

The Drop Arm sign is used to assess for a:

Rotator cuff tear

Technique

1. Place the patient’s arm in an abducted position.
2. Ask the patient to lower the arm.

Normal Rotator Cuff

The patient can:

Smoothly and controllably lower the arm from the abducted position.

Positive Drop Arm Sign

In a patient with a rotator cuff tear:

• Patient is unable to maintain the arm in abduction.
• The arm drops rapidly when attempting to lower it.

Interpretation

Inability to smoothly control lowering of the abducted arm / sudden dropping of the arm – Positive Drop Arm sign – Rotator cuff tear.

One-line Viva Answer

Drop Arm sign is positive when the patient cannot maintain or smoothly lower the abducted arm and it drops suddenly, suggesting a rotator cuff tear.

Quick Recall

Abduct arm – ask patient to lower slowly  arm suddenly drops = positive Drop Arm sign.