What is the normal active shoulder extension range?

What is the normal active shoulder extension range?

• A. 60 degrees
• B. 30 degrees
• C. 90 degrees
• D. 120 degrees

Answer: (A)

Shoulder extension is the motion of moving the arm backward from the anatomical position, primarily at the glenohumeral joint. In healthy individuals, the normal active range is about 60 degrees. This means you can actively extend the arm behind you to roughly a right-angle with the torso. The movement uses muscles like the posterior deltoid, teres major, latissimus dorsi, and infraspinatus, and it is limited by the posterior shoulder capsule and ligaments as well as muscle length. Values around 60 degrees reflect normal active control without compensatory shoulder girdle motion; smaller values (around 30 degrees) would indicate reduced ROM, while substantially larger values (like 90 or 120 degrees) would typically involve additional scapulothoracic contribution or be considered beyond the normal glenohumeral extension range.

Shoulder extension is the motion of moving the arm backward from the anatomical position, primarily at the glenohumeral joint. In healthy individuals, the normal active range is about 60 degrees. This means you can actively extend the arm behind you to roughly a right-angle with the torso. The movement uses muscles like the posterior deltoid, teres major, latissimus dorsi, and infraspinatus, and it is limited by the posterior shoulder capsule and ligaments as well as muscle length. Values around 60 degrees reflect normal active control without compensatory shoulder girdle motion; smaller values (around 30 degrees) would indicate reduced ROM, while substantially larger values (like 90 or 120 degrees) would typically involve additional scapulothoracic contribution or be considered beyond the normal glenohumeral extension range.