What is the normal active shoulder external rotation range?

What is the normal active shoulder external rotation range?

• A. 90 degrees
• B. 60 degrees
• C. 120 degrees
• D. 45 degrees

Answer: (A)

When assessing external rotation, clinicians usually test with the arm abducted to 90 degrees. In this position, the primary external rotators (infraspinatus and teres minor) can rotate the forearm laterally by about a right angle, giving a normal active external rotation range of roughly 90 degrees. The other options are lower or higher than what's typically seen in this standard testing position—about 60 degrees is more like the value you'd expect if the arm were near the side, while 120 or 45 degrees don’t match the usual 90-degree arc expected at 90 degrees of abduction. Therefore, 90 degrees is the normal active external rotation range in the common testing position.

When assessing external rotation, clinicians usually test with the arm abducted to 90 degrees. In this position, the primary external rotators (infraspinatus and teres minor) can rotate the forearm laterally by about a right angle, giving a normal active external rotation range of roughly 90 degrees. The other options are lower or higher than what's typically seen in this standard testing position—about 60 degrees is more like the value you'd expect if the arm were near the side, while 120 or 45 degrees don’t match the usual 90-degree arc expected at 90 degrees of abduction. Therefore, 90 degrees is the normal active external rotation range in the common testing position.