How to Measure Lateral Rotation of the Shoulder

Shoulder pain can be caused from a variety of factors.

Shoulder rotation is most often thought of in the context of pitching, but it figures into a variety of daily activities. If a patient has a problem with shoulder rotation and it is causing pain, he will usually need to consult a physical therapist to figure out what exactly is causing the problem and how to properly rehabilitate the shoulder.

Things You'll Need

• Towel
• Goniometer

Instructions

1. Have the patient lie down on the examining table with his injured arm facing you. He should be lying on his back. Place his arm at a 90-degree angle at the elbow, with his palm facing forward and his pinky toward you. Place a small rolled towel underneath his elbow.

2. Ask the patient to laterally rotate his arm, bringing the back of his hand toward the table. Ascertain that the patient is able to move his shoulder in this direction without experiencing any pain. If he experiences pain, have the patient only move his shoulder to the extent that is comfortable.

3. Use the goniometer to measure the range of motion of lateral rotation of the shoulder. Do this by placing the fulcrum of the goniometer on the tip of the elbow, with the stationary arm perpendicular to the floor and the movable arm along the midline of the forearm. Using the moveable arm, follow the patient's motion as he reaches back toward the table. Note the reading at the end of the patient's range of motion.

4. Compare the patient's range of motion to the accepted value of 70 degrees of lateral shoulder rotation. If the patient has more than 70 degrees of lateral rotation, he is considered to be normal. If he is lacking, and has less than 70 degrees of lateral shoulder rotation, further investigation is needed to determine what is interfering with normal rotation.

Tips & Warnings

• Always place a rolled towel under the patient's elbow to ensure comfort, and to hold the elbow off the table a bit so you can read the goniometer properly.

• Take note of any pain the patient feels during lateral rotation of the shoulder. This could indicate an impingement in the rotator cuff or a tear in the labrum of the shoulder.

Resources

• Shoulder Surgery Exercise Guide