Shoulder Abduction ROM
Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means
Active shoulder abduction is the arc of arm elevation in the frontal plane, from the side of the body to fully overhead. It is used clinically to assess glenohumeral joint mobility, rotator cuff function, and subacromial impingement. Norms are based on right-shoulder measurements taken in standing with a Plurimeter V inclinometer, to the nearest degree, in a large Australian community sample (Gill et al., 2020). Abduction medians run 4 to 15.5 degrees below flexion medians across the published brackets, with the gap varying by age and sex.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Plurimeter V (gravity-referenced) inclinometer
- Standing space
- Protocol Steps
-
- Stand upright with the arm relaxed at the side in the anatomical neutral position (0 degrees).
- Raise the arm sideways in the frontal plane as high as possible without bending the elbow, hiking the shoulder, or side-bending the trunk.
- The assessor places a Plurimeter V gravity-referenced inclinometer on the arm.
- Record the angle at maximum elevation, to the nearest degree.
- Perform on both sides; right-shoulder values are reported on this site.
- Scoring
Record the angle in degrees at maximum active lateral elevation. Higher values indicate greater shoulder abduction range of motion.
- Notes
Norms on this site are based on right-shoulder measurements. Left-shoulder values are typically within 1-3 degrees of right-shoulder values in the Gill 2020 dataset. The source study measured this movement in standing with a gravity-referenced inclinometer, recording one measurement per shoulder to the nearest degree.
Data source: Gill 2020 About this study
Reference population: Australian community-dwelling adults aged 20-84 years (85+ excluded, n=10 per sex)
Shoulder Abduction ROM Norms Chart by Age and Sex (degrees)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 20-24 | Male | 117.3 | 160.0 | 164.0 | 172.0 | 180.0 |
| Female | 136.5 | 150.0 | 160.0 | 166.0 | 176.3 | |
| 25-29 | Male | 131.7 | 143.0 | 160.0 | 164.0 | 176.5 |
| Female | 132.1 | 150.0 | 158.4 | 169.0 | 180.0 | |
| 30-34 | Male | 131.2 | 152.0 | 160.0 | 166.0 | 180.0 |
| Female | 135.1 | 150.0 | 156.0 | 165.0 | 176.9 | |
| 35-39 | Male | 120.1 | 150.0 | 160.0 | 166.0 | 180.0 |
| Female | 138.6 | 150.0 | 160.0 | 168.0 | 179.0 | |
| 40-44 | Male | 131.4 | 146.0 | 158.0 | 166.0 | 178.4 |
| Female | 129.6 | 148.0 | 158.0 | 164.0 | 180.0 | |
| 45-49 | Male | 131.5 | 148.0 | 156.0 | 164.0 | 177.5 |
| Female | 126.6 | 140.0 | 152.0 | 160.0 | 175.6 | |
| 50-54 | Male | 131.9 | 154.0 | 160.0 | 166.0 | 180.0 |
| Female | 123.6 | 141.0 | 154.0 | 161.0 | 179.2 | |
| 55-59 | Male | 117.7 | 140.0 | 150.0 | 160.0 | 179.5 |
| Female | 127.1 | 140.0 | 150.0 | 160.0 | 172.1 | |
| 60-64 | Male | 116.1 | 139.0 | 148.0 | 159.0 | 175.7 |
| Female | 95.2 | 130.0 | 142.0 | 155.0 | 180.0 | |
| 65-69 | Male | 90.0 | 130.0 | 142.0 | 153.0 | 180.0 |
| Female | 113.5 | 135.0 | 144.0 | 155.0 | 171.7 | |
| 70-74 | Male | 101.5 | 127.0 | 141.3 | 153.0 | 172.9 |
| Female | 81.9 | 120.0 | 141.8 | 152.0 | 180.0 | |
| 75-79 | Male | 106.6 | 128.0 | 140.0 | 150.0 | 166.2 |
| Female | 90.2 | 128.0 | 140.0 | 150.0 | 176.4 | |
| 80-84 | Male | 93.0 | 120.0 | 132.0 | 150.0 | 168.0 |
| Female | 77.3 | 100.0 | 124.5 | 140.0 | 164.5 | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 20-24 | 160.0 to 172.0 | 150.0 to 166.0 |
| 25-29 | 143.0 to 164.0 | 150.0 to 169.0 |
| 30-34 | 152.0 to 166.0 | 150.0 to 165.0 |
| 35-39 | 150.0 to 166.0 | 150.0 to 168.0 |
| 40-44 | 146.0 to 166.0 | 148.0 to 164.0 |
| 45-49 | 148.0 to 164.0 | 140.0 to 160.0 |
| 50-54 | 154.0 to 166.0 | 141.0 to 161.0 |
| 55-59 | 140.0 to 160.0 | 140.0 to 160.0 |
| 60-64 | 139.0 to 159.0 | 130.0 to 155.0 |
| 65-69 | 130.0 to 153.0 | 135.0 to 155.0 |
| 70-74 | 127.0 to 153.0 | 120.0 to 152.0 |
| 75-79 | 128.0 to 150.0 | 128.0 to 150.0 |
| 80-84 | 120.0 to 150.0 | 100.0 to 140.0 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a normal shoulder abduction range of motion?
For adults aged 20-54, the median active shoulder abduction (right shoulder) is 156 to 164 degrees in men and 152 to 160 degrees in women. Values decline with age, reaching 132 degrees in men and 124.5 in women by age 80-84. Full abduction is considered 180 degrees; values below 150 degrees in adults under 60 may warrant further assessment.
How does abduction ROM compare to flexion ROM?
Abduction medians run 4 to 15.5 degrees below flexion medians across the published age brackets, with the gap varying by age and sex rather than holding at a fixed amount. The source study reports both movements but does not test why they differ.
Why does shoulder abduction decline with age?
The source study reports that range declines with age for all three movements it measured, but it does not test the reasons for that decline, so this page does not attribute it to a specific cause. Median abduction falls from 164 degrees at 20-24 to 132 degrees at 80-84 in men, and from 160 to 124.5 degrees in women.
How is shoulder abduction measured?
In the source study, active shoulder abduction was measured with the participant standing, arm relaxed at the side. The arm is raised sideways in the frontal plane as high as possible without shoulder shrugging or trunk lean, and the angle at maximum elevation is recorded to the nearest degree with a Plurimeter V gravity-referenced inclinometer. One measurement was taken per shoulder. The norms on this site are the right-shoulder values (Gill et al. 2020).
Are there norms for adults over 84?
The Gill 2020 dataset covers ages 20-84. No large-scale peer-reviewed ROM norms exist for adults aged 85 and above. Clinical assessment in this age group typically uses the same protocol with reference to the published 80-84 bracket.