Video 7.8. Belly Press Test

The examiner performs the belly press test. The patient is instructed to maintain their elbows in 90 degrees of flexion with the palms pressed against their abdomen. The examiner applies a posteriorly directed force against the patient’s elbows while the patient is asked to resist by internally rotating the affected shoulder to effectively press the palm into the abdomen. Here, the patient is unable to fully bring his left elbow forward while pressing his belly. Further, the patient is unable to resist a posteriorly directed force by the examiner. The patient has a positive left-sided belly press test, indicating a left-sided subscapularis tear. In contrast, the belly press test on the contralateral (right) shoulder is negative.