Subacromial pressure during diagnostic shoulder tests.

The pressure in the subacromial bursa during passive provocation tests and during active motion was recorded in five healthy persons, and in seven patients with a subacromial pain syndrome. During the passive impingement test, the mean bursa pressure increased from 6 to 56 mmHg in healthy persons and from 8 to 45 mmHg in the patients. A passive test for anterior glenohumeral instability yielded bursa pressures below 0 mmHg in both groups. Active flexion of the arm at the shoulder produced a pressure increase up to 90° and a pressure decrease between 90 and 180° of flexion for both groups.
(Copyright © 1988. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)