General Shoulder Flexibility Test (Goniometry)

Shoulder goniometry is the gold standard when you want to move beyond a quick screen like the Apley Scratch Test and get concrete data in degrees. While it takes a bit more time, it gives you objective information you can compare against normative values and, more importantly, against the athlete's own progress over time.

It's the go-to tool when you need to justify a progression, pinpoint a specific restriction, or document recovery from a shoulder injury.

What does this test measure?

Using a standard goniometer, it measures the active and/or passive range of motion of the shoulder in its main planes:

• Flexion (arm forward and up)
• Extension (arm backward)
• Abduction (arm out to the side and up)
• Internal rotation (with the arm at 90° abduction or at the side, depending on the protocol)
• External rotation (with the arm at 90° abduction or at the side)

Each movement is measured separately and compared with normative values and with the opposite side.

Equipment needed

• Standard goniometer (two arms)
• Treatment table (for supine measurements, especially rotations)
• Optional: digital inclinometer app for greater precision

Step-by-step protocol

1. Position the person appropriately for each movement (standing for flexion/extension/abduction, lying down for rotations)
2. Identify the bony landmarks for placing the goniometer: axis at the center of the shoulder joint (acromion), stationary arm aligned with the trunk, moving arm aligned with the humerus
3. Ask the person to perform the movement actively (as far as they can on their own) to the end of the range
4. Read and record the angle in degrees
5. To also assess the passive range, repeat the movement assisting at the end of the range (carefully, without forcing) and record the difference from the active value
6. Repeat each movement on both shoulders and record all values

Common mistakes

• Not stabilizing the scapula or trunk, allowing compensations that "inflate" the measured range
• Misplacing the goniometer's axis relative to the joint
• Mixing active and passive range measurements without distinguishing them in the record
• Not always measuring in the same position (standing vs. lying down changes rotation values)

How to interpret the results

Movement	Approximate normative range (adults)	Comment
Flexion	150-180°	Values close to 180° are common in people with good general mobility
Extension	40-60°	More individual variability than flexion
Abduction	150-180°	Usually accompanied by some scapular rotation beyond 90° (scapulohumeral rhythm)
Internal rotation (90° abduction)	60-90°	Often reduced in overhead/throwing sports as an adaptation (GIRD)
External rotation (90° abduction)	80-100°	Often increased in throwing athletes, compensating for reduced internal rotation

The most useful interpretation is usually comparing both shoulders: a difference of more than 10-15° in any movement, especially in rotations, deserves attention even if both values fall within "normal" ranges on general charts.

How this test relates to others

Shoulder goniometry complements a quick prior screen very well:

• Apley Scratch Test — use it as a quick screen and, if it detects a restriction, dig deeper with goniometry for each movement separately
• Wall Shoulder Mobility Test — another functional measurement you can combine with the goniometric values

Track your progress

Shoulder goniometry is especially valuable for tracking injuries (capsulitis, post-surgery, overuse in throwing sports), where a few degrees of improvement or loss make a real difference. With Movalytics you can record the angle for each movement, in each shoulder, at every assessment, and visualize how range of motion progresses over a rehab process or a training block.

FAQ

Is it better to measure active or passive range? It depends on the goal: active range reflects what the athlete can use functionally, while passive range indicates the available structural/joint limit. Ideally both are measured and the difference (active-passive deficit) is compared. Why do throwers usually have less internal rotation? This is a known adaptation called GIRD (Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit), related to changes in the posterior shoulder capsule from repetitive throwing. It's not always pathological, but it should be monitored along with total external rotation. How often should this assessment be repeated? During rehab, every 2-4 weeks is usually enough to detect progress. In healthy athletes, an assessment every 2-3 months or at the start/end of a training block is usually sufficient.