Normative Values of Isometric Shoulder Strength Among Healthy Adults.
Helen Bradley, Lauren Pierpoint
PMID 37547848WHAT IT FOUND
Healthy adults aged 20-59 show symmetrical shoulder strength between arms for most movements.
Men were stronger than women in all tests. Higher activity levels were associated with greater strength. These norms help therapists benchmark recovery and return-to-sport readiness using the uninvolved arm as a valid reference.
Key findings
01Isometric strength did not differ significantly between dominant and non-dominant arms for most shoulder movements, supporting the use of the uninvolved limb as a benchmark.
02Males demonstrated significantly higher strength than females across all seven tested shoulder movements, even after normalizing for body weight.
03Higher activity levels were positively associated with greater shoulder strength, while age was not a significant predictor for most movements in this active population.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was drawn from Colorado, a state with high physical activity levels, so these norms may not apply to less active populations. The age range was limited to 20-59 years, excluding seniors who may show different strength patterns. Participants were screened via questionnaire and range of motion, not imaging, so asymptomatic rotator cuff pathology could not be ruled out. Reliability for some positions, specifically external rotation at 90° and scapular plane abduction, was only moderate to poor, suggesting caution when interpreting data for these specific tests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not apply these norms to older adults (60+) or sedentary populations. The study participants were notably active, and the lack of age-related strength decline observed here may not reflect the general population or those with less physical activity.