Question:medium
In painful arc syndrome, pain is felt during?
In painful arc syndrome, pain is felt during?
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Pain in the 60-120 degree mid arc of abduction defines painful arc syndrome.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Mid abduction
- Initial abduction
- Full range of abduction
- Overhead abduction
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Recognise painful arc syndrome as subacromial impingement, where soft tissue is pinched between the humeral head and the acromion during arm elevation.
Step 2: Map the painful range - symptoms appear over the middle portion of abduction, roughly $60^\circ$ to $120^\circ$, where the inflamed supraspinatus passes under the coracoacromial arch.
Step 3: Below $60^\circ$ and above $120^\circ$ the tendon clears the arch, so the extremes of motion are relatively painless, which is why initial, full, and overhead abduction are wrong.
Step 4: The pain therefore localises to the mid arc of abduction. \[\boxed{\text{Mid abduction (60-120 degrees)}}\]
Step 2: Map the painful range - symptoms appear over the middle portion of abduction, roughly $60^\circ$ to $120^\circ$, where the inflamed supraspinatus passes under the coracoacromial arch.
Step 3: Below $60^\circ$ and above $120^\circ$ the tendon clears the arch, so the extremes of motion are relatively painless, which is why initial, full, and overhead abduction are wrong.
Step 4: The pain therefore localises to the mid arc of abduction. \[\boxed{\text{Mid abduction (60-120 degrees)}}\]
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