Shoulder External Rotation ROM
Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means
Active shoulder external rotation is the arc of outward rotation of the humerus with the upper arm held by the side and the elbow bent. It is one of the three shoulder movements the source study measured. Norms are based on right-shoulder measurements using a visual estimate to the nearest five degrees in a large Australian community sample (Gill et al., 2020). The same study used a Plurimeter V inclinometer for flexion and abduction, but not for this movement. Women in this dataset show higher median external rotation than men in 11 of the 13 age brackets and equal medians at 45-49 and 80-84, with the largest gap in the 20s and 30s. P95 is estimated from the mean and SD; in the youngest brackets that estimate exceeded 90 degrees, the AAOS reference value for this movement, and was held there for women aged 20 to 29 and men aged 25 to 29.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- No instrument; external rotation was assessed visually
- Standing space
- Protocol Steps
-
- Stand upright with the upper arm by the side and the elbow bent to 90 degrees.
- Rotate the forearm outward, away from the body, as far as it will actively go.
- Keep the upper arm against the side; do not let the shoulder abduct or the trunk rotate.
- The assessor estimates the angle visually, to the nearest five degrees.
- Perform on both sides; right-shoulder values are reported here.
- Scoring
Record the angle in degrees at maximum active external rotation, to the nearest five degrees. Higher values indicate greater shoulder external rotation range of motion.
- Notes
Norms on this site are based on right-shoulder measurements. The source study assessed external rotation by visual estimate rather than with an instrument, which is less precise than the inclinometer it used for flexion and abduction. P95 is an estimate from the mean and SD; where that estimate exceeded 90 degrees it was held at 90, the AAOS reference value for this movement, which affects women aged 20 to 29 and men aged 25 to 29.
Data source: Gill 2020 About this study
Reference population: Australian community-dwelling adults aged 20-84 years (85+ excluded, n=10 per sex)
Shoulder External Rotation ROM Norms Chart by Age and Sex (degrees)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 20-24 | Male | 36.1 | 47.0 | 65.0 | 75.0 | 88.5 |
| Female | 49.6 | 70.0 | 80.0 | 85.0 | 90.0 | |
| 25-29 | Male | 35.4 | 50.0 | 65.0 | 80.0 | 90.0 |
| Female | 51.9 | 65.0 | 75.0 | 80.0 | 90.0 | |
| 30-34 | Male | 32.0 | 45.0 | 60.0 | 75.0 | 86.2 |
| Female | 42.4 | 55.0 | 70.0 | 75.0 | 87.8 | |
| 35-39 | Male | 28.2 | 45.0 | 55.0 | 70.0 | 84.4 |
| Female | 35.4 | 45.0 | 65.0 | 75.0 | 89.6 | |
| 40-44 | Male | 29.1 | 45.0 | 50.0 | 67.0 | 80.7 |
| Female | 29.4 | 45.0 | 55.0 | 75.0 | 87.6 | |
| 45-49 | Male | 25.3 | 45.0 | 50.0 | 70.0 | 82.3 |
| Female | 27.5 | 45.0 | 50.0 | 70.0 | 84.7 | |
| 50-54 | Male | 27.2 | 45.0 | 56.3 | 73.0 | 85.8 |
| Female | 31.8 | 45.0 | 60.0 | 70.0 | 84.4 | |
| 55-59 | Male | 23.7 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 70.0 | 83.3 |
| Female | 28.7 | 45.0 | 51.2 | 70.0 | 84.3 | |
| 60-64 | Male | 22.2 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 65.0 | 81.8 |
| Female | 21.4 | 40.0 | 55.0 | 73.0 | 87.8 | |
| 65-69 | Male | 22.1 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 65.0 | 81.7 |
| Female | 27.3 | 45.0 | 55.0 | 72.0 | 86.5 | |
| 70-74 | Male | 25.9 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 70.0 | 74.9 |
| Female | 20.2 | 40.0 | 53.5 | 70.0 | 81.8 | |
| 75-79 | Male | 25.9 | 40.0 | 45.0 | 60.0 | 74.9 |
| Female | 20.2 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 65.0 | 81.8 | |
| 80-84 | Male | 22.1 | 42.0 | 50.0 | 70.0 | 83.9 |
| Female | 24.2 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 65.0 | 83.4 | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 20-24 | 47.0 to 75.0 | 70.0 to 85.0 |
| 25-29 | 50.0 to 80.0 | 65.0 to 80.0 |
| 30-34 | 45.0 to 75.0 | 55.0 to 75.0 |
| 35-39 | 45.0 to 70.0 | 45.0 to 75.0 |
| 40-44 | 45.0 to 67.0 | 45.0 to 75.0 |
| 45-49 | 45.0 to 70.0 | 45.0 to 70.0 |
| 50-54 | 45.0 to 73.0 | 45.0 to 70.0 |
| 55-59 | 40.0 to 70.0 | 45.0 to 70.0 |
| 60-64 | 40.0 to 65.0 | 40.0 to 73.0 |
| 65-69 | 40.0 to 65.0 | 45.0 to 72.0 |
| 70-74 | 40.0 to 70.0 | 40.0 to 70.0 |
| 75-79 | 40.0 to 60.0 | 40.0 to 65.0 |
| 80-84 | 42.0 to 70.0 | 40.0 to 65.0 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a normal shoulder external rotation range of motion?
Normal active external rotation, measured standing with the upper arm by the side, is approximately 50-80 degrees in adults. Young women typically have higher values (median 75-80°) than young men (median 65°). Values decline with age in both sexes, with medians around 45-55 degrees by age 70-84.
Do women have higher external rotation than men?
In this dataset the female median is higher in 11 of the 13 age brackets, equal to the male median at 45-49 and 80-84, with the largest gaps in the 20s and 30s. The source study reports the difference but does not test a cause for it, and notes that the effect of sex on shoulder range of motion has varied across previous studies.
Why are some P95 values capped at 90 degrees?
Our P95 is not a measured value: it is estimated as the mean plus 1.645 standard deviations, assuming approximate normality. In the youngest brackets that estimate runs above 90 degrees, which is the AAOS reference value for normal external rotation and beyond what a test assessed visually to the nearest five degrees meaningfully distinguishes. We hold P95 at 90 degrees for women aged 20-24 and 25-29 and for men aged 25-29, so those are conservative estimates rather than measured ceilings.
Does external rotation decline with age?
Yes, but the pattern differs between sexes. Men show a relatively steady decline from around 65° median in their 20s to around 45-50° by their 70s and 80s. Women show a sharper drop from high values in the 20s (median ~75-80°) to values similar to men by age 50-60, then a gradual further decline.