Bear Hug Test

Published July 2, 2026 Read time 1 min read Readers 1

What is the "Bear Hug Test" used for?

The Bear Hug Test is a new special test that is used to diagnose subscapularis tendon tears.

The patient is placed in an upright standing position,
The patient places the palm of the hand of the affected side on the opposite shoulder with outstretched fingers and the elbow pointing forward (anteriorly to the body),
While the patient tries to hold this position by actively internally rotating, the examiner grasps the patient’s wrist and tries to loosen the hand from the shoulder by forcibly externally rotating the arm , pulling at right angles to the forearm to remove his hand from his shoulder.
The test should be compared with the other side.

If there is a tear of the subscapularis tendon, especially of the upper part, the patient is unable to maintain the hand on the opposite shoulder (a positive Bear Hug Test).
Pain and muscle weakness in comparison with the other side suggests subscapularis tendon dysfunction (the resistance is 20% less than that of the contralateral side).