The Hawkins–Kennedy Test is a test used in the evaluation of orthopedic shoulder injury. It was first described in the 1980s by Canadian Drs. R. Hawkins and J. Kennedy, and a positive test is most likely indicative of damage to the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle.

Interpretation

A positive Hawkins-Kennedy test is indicative of an impingement of all structures that are located between the

greater tubercle The greater tubercle of the humerus is the outward part the upper end of that bone, adjacent to the large rounded prominence of the humerus head. It provides attachment points for the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles, thre ...

of the

humerus The humerus (; ) is a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. It connects the scapula and the two bones of the lower arm, the radius and ulna, and consists of three sections. The humeral upper extremity consists of a roun ...

and the coracohumeral ligament. The impinged structures include the supraspinatus muscle, teres minor muscle, and the infraspinatus muscle. The Hawkins-Kennedy test is considered to be a highly sensitive test (79%) and thus a positive Hawkins-Kennedy test suggests that injury is likely.

Procedure

The patient is examined while sitting with their shoulder flexed to 90° and their elbow flexed to 90°. The examiner grasps and supports points proximal to both the patient's wrist and elbow to ensure maximal relaxation, then quickly rotates the patient's arm internally. Pain located below the acromioclavicular joint with internal rotation is considered a positive test result.

References

Shoulder Musculoskeletal examination {{Orthopedics-stub