The passive range of motion of healthy shoulders

Translated title of the contribution: The passive range of motion of healthy shoulders

Hermann Anetzberger, Florian Lipold, Christof Birkenmaier, Andreas B. Imhoff, Stephan Lorenz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Measurement of the range of motion (ROM) of shoulder joints is an important component of the clinical examination. Standard values or values from the contralateral side are routinely used to judge whether a restriction in motion is present. However, there is reasonable doubt whether the generally accepted standard values from textbooks are reliable. This is due to the fact that most data were based on small numbers of subjects and that several parameters that may influence the ROM were not taken into consideration. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the passive ROM of shoulders in a normal population with special attention to laxity, handedness, gender and age. A total of 491 male and female volunteers aged between 21 and 82 years were recruited for the study. The ROM for both shoulders in flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation with the arm in 0° and in 90° of abduction was measured using a standardized goniometric technique. The results show that ROM was not correlated to body height, body weight, ligamentous laxity dominance and side. Healthy shoulders showed a large interindividual variability with respect to ROM. Women had a higher ROM of up to 10° in all directions with the exception of extension. The ROM significantly decreased with age by about 20° in all directions with the exception of adduction. In consequence, the contralateral healthy side can be used as a control in clinical practice. Based on these results, normative values for ROM of healthy shoulders should be separated according to gender and age.

Translated title of the contributionThe passive range of motion of healthy shoulders
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)212-219
Number of pages8
JournalObere Extremitat
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Goniometer measurement
  • Range of motion
  • Shoulder
  • Standard values

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