Video 2.13. The Lift Off Test

The examiner performs the lift off test on the patient’s right and left shoulders. The test is considered positive if the patient is unable to internally rotate either shoulder and lift their hands off the back or if the patient cannot actively resist the gentle force applied by the examiner. A positive test indicates a deficit of the subscapularis. Here, the patient successfully lifts off her right hand but is unable to lift off her left hand. The patient has a positive left-sided lift off test.