©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
MSK Exam Questions With Correct Answers
A+
1. The *"drop arm test"*, when positive,
suggests?
a. Clavicle fracture
b. AC joint separation
c. Large rotator cuff tear or nerve injury
d. Biceps tendinitis - Answer✔c. Large rotator cuff tear or nerve injury
2. The *cross-over test*, when positive, may
suggest?
a. AC joint pain
b. Glenohumeral joint instability
c. Impingement syndrome
d. Both a and c - Answer✔d. Both AC joint pain and Impingement syndrome
3. Glenohumeral instability is commonly
seen in?
a Young, active patients
b. Elderly
c. Young, sedentary patients
d. Pregnancy - Answer✔a Young, active patients
4. Characteristics of *rotator cuff tendinitis*
include?
a. Pain that improves with activity and
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
worsens with rest
b. Pain located in the bicipital groove
c. Pain that improves with rest and
worsens with activity
d. Pain related to trauma - Answer✔c. Pain that improves with rest and worsens with activity
5. Abduction with thumbs down and 30°
horizontal adduction (*"empty can test"*)
isolates which rotator cuff muscle?
a. Subscapularis
b. Teres minor
c. Supraspinatous
d. Infraspinatous - Answer✔c. Supraspinatous
6.* Loss of both active and passive* shoulder
motion may suggest which of the following?
a. Labrum tear
b. Adhesive capsulitis
c. Severe impingement
d. All of the above - Answer✔d. All of the above
7. When performing *Neer's test*, pain or lack
of motion is commonly seen with?
a. Impingement syndrome
b. AC separation
c. Glenohumeral instability
d. Labrum tear - Answer✔a. . Impingement syndrome
8. A positive *Spurling's test* (radicular pain
to the shoulder and arm during axial
loading to the top of the head with
the neck twisted) may represent?
2
MSK Exam Questions With Correct Answers
A+
1. The *"drop arm test"*, when positive,
suggests?
a. Clavicle fracture
b. AC joint separation
c. Large rotator cuff tear or nerve injury
d. Biceps tendinitis - Answer✔c. Large rotator cuff tear or nerve injury
2. The *cross-over test*, when positive, may
suggest?
a. AC joint pain
b. Glenohumeral joint instability
c. Impingement syndrome
d. Both a and c - Answer✔d. Both AC joint pain and Impingement syndrome
3. Glenohumeral instability is commonly
seen in?
a Young, active patients
b. Elderly
c. Young, sedentary patients
d. Pregnancy - Answer✔a Young, active patients
4. Characteristics of *rotator cuff tendinitis*
include?
a. Pain that improves with activity and
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
worsens with rest
b. Pain located in the bicipital groove
c. Pain that improves with rest and
worsens with activity
d. Pain related to trauma - Answer✔c. Pain that improves with rest and worsens with activity
5. Abduction with thumbs down and 30°
horizontal adduction (*"empty can test"*)
isolates which rotator cuff muscle?
a. Subscapularis
b. Teres minor
c. Supraspinatous
d. Infraspinatous - Answer✔c. Supraspinatous
6.* Loss of both active and passive* shoulder
motion may suggest which of the following?
a. Labrum tear
b. Adhesive capsulitis
c. Severe impingement
d. All of the above - Answer✔d. All of the above
7. When performing *Neer's test*, pain or lack
of motion is commonly seen with?
a. Impingement syndrome
b. AC separation
c. Glenohumeral instability
d. Labrum tear - Answer✔a. . Impingement syndrome
8. A positive *Spurling's test* (radicular pain
to the shoulder and arm during axial
loading to the top of the head with
the neck twisted) may represent?
2
