Joint Range of Motions and Interactions

Neck | Shoulder | Elbow | Forearm | Wrist | Trunk | Hip | Knee | Ankle

Neck / Cervical Spine

• Flexion / Extension
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 129º-142º
    • Women: 142º-160º
  • Flexion
    • 45º-60º
  • Extension
    • 45º-75º
• Lateral Flexion
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 90º-106º
    • Women: 100º-116º
  • Lateral Flexion
    • 45º
• Rotation
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 161º-181º
    • Women: 178º-198º
  • Rotation
    • 60º-80º

Shoulder

• Flexion / Extension
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 224º-242º
    • Women: 243º-261º
  • Flexion
    • 150º-180º
    • 90º-120º (ACSM)
    • Elbow flexion (full) decreases ROM
      • Introduces Passive Insufficiency of Triceps, Long Head
  • Extension
    • 50º-60º
    • 20º-30º (ACSM)
      • Possibly without anterior tipping of scapula?
    • Elbow Flexion increases ROM
      • Removes Passive Insufficiency of Biceps (particularly short head)
• Adduction / Abduction
  • Externally Rotated Shoulder, Accumulative Average
    • Men: 172º-186º
    • Women: 181º-195º
  • Adduction
    • 0º
  • Abduction
    • Externally Rotated Shoulder: 180º
      • Elbow Flexion (full) decreases ROM
        • Introduces Passive Insufficiency of Triceps, Long Head
    • Internally Rotated Shoulder: 80º-100º (ACSM)
• Transverse Adduction/ Abduction
  • Transverse Adduction
    • 90º-135º (ACSM)
  • Transverse Abduction
    • 30º-45º (ACSM)
    • Upper arm exactly 90º of torso
    • Elbow should not drop below shoulder height
    • Scapula Retraction involved
    • Seemingly less ROM with strict Transverse Abduction
    • Elbow Extension (full) decreases ROM somewhat
      • Introduces Passive Insufficiency of Biceps Brachii (particularly short head)
• Rotation
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 172º-192º
    • Women: 207º-227º
  • Internal Rotation
    • 70-90º
    • 70-90º (ACSM)
  • External Rotation
    • 90º
    • 70º-90º (ACSM)

Elbow

• Flexion / Extension
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 144º-156º
    • Women: 144º-156
  • Flexion
    • 140º-150º
    • 135º-160º (ACSM)
    • Shoulder Flexion (full) decreases ROM
      • Introduces Passive Insufficiency of Triceps, Long Head
  • Extension
    • 0º

Forearm

• Supination / Pronation
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 171º-191º
    • Women: 180º-200º
  • Supination
    • 80º
  • Pronation
    • 80º

Wrist

• Flexion / Extension
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 132-152º
    • Women: 156-176º
  • Flexion
    • 60-80º
    • Elbow Extension (full) decreases ROM somewhat.
      • Introduces Passive Insufficiency of 4 of 8 heads (1-4) of Wrist Extensors
  • Extension
    • 60º-70º
• Ulnar / Radial Deviation
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 78º-94º
    • Women: 89º-101º
  • Ulnar Deviation
    • 30º
  • Radial Deviation
    • 20º

Trunk / Thoracic - Lumar Spine

• Flexion / Extension
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 63º-83º
    • Women: 48º-68º
  • Flexion
    • 60º-80º
    • 120-150 (ACSM)
  • Extension
    • 20º-30º
    • 20º-45º (ACSM)
• Lateral Flexion
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 90º-106º
    • Women: 120º-136º
  • Lateral Flexion
    • 25º-35º
    • 10º-35º (ACSM)
• Rotation
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 127º-147º
    • Women: 153º-173º
  • Rotation
    • 30º-45º
    • 20-40º (ACSM)
  • Lumbar spine rotation increases as spinal flexion increases
    • More space between facets of each two successive vertebra

Hip

• Flexion / Extension
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 68º-88º
    • Women: 100º-120º
  • Flexion
    • 100º-120º
    • 90º-135º (ACSM)
    • Tested with knee flexed
    • Knee Extension decreases ROM
      • Introduces Passive Insufficiency of Hamstrings (3 of 4 heads)
      • Ankle Dorsiflexion further decreases ROM
        • Stretched gastrocnemius pulls the hamstrings behind the knee
        • Also see Sit & Reach Box?
  • Extension
    • 30º
    • 10º-30º
    • Knee Flexed (full) decreases ROM
      • Introduces Passive Insuffficiency of Rectus Femoris
• Adduction / Abduction
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 51º-61º
    • Women: 55º-65º
  • Adduction
    • 20º-30º
    • 10º-30º (ACSM)
  • Abduction
    • 40º-45º
    • 30º-50º
• Internal / External Rotation
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 79º-99º
    • Women: 110º-130º
  • Internal Rotation
    • 40º-45º
    • 30º-45º (ACSM)
  • External Rotation
    • 45º-50º
    • 45º-60º

Knee

• Flexion / Extension
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 134º-146º
    • Women: 145º-157º
  • Flexion
    • 135º-150º
    • 130º-140º (ACSM)
    • Tested with hip flexed
    • Hip Extension (full) decreases ROM
      • Introduces Passive Insuffficiency of Rectus Femoris
  • Extension
    • 0º-10º
    • 5º-10º (ACSM)
    • Ankle Dorsiflexion (full) decreases ROM
      • Introduces Passive Insuffficiency of Gastrocnemius
      • Also see how Hip Position Effects Plantar Flexion

Ankle / Subtalar

• Plantar Flexion/Dorsiflexion
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 59º-71º
    • Women: 67º-79º
  • Plantar Flexion
    • 40º-50º
    • 30º-50º (ACSM)
  • Dorsiflexion
    • 20º
    • 15º-20º (ACSM)
    • Knee Flexion increases ROM
      • Removes Passive Insufficiency of Gastrocnemius
    • Combination of Hip Flexion and Knee Extension (full) decreases ROM
      • Stretched hamstrings pulls gastrocnemius the behind the knee
      • Also see how Hip Position Effects Plantar Flexion
• Inversion/Eversion
  • Accumulative Average
    • Men: 42º-56º
    • Women: 51º-65º
  • Inversion
    • 30º-35º
    • 10º-30º (ACSM)
    • Greater foot inversion ROM in ankle Plantar Flexion as compared to Dorsiflexion
  • Eversion
    • 15º-20º
    • 10º-30º (ACSM)

Non-cumulative movements are measured from anatomical position

References

ACSM (2013). Health-Related Physical Fitness Testing and Interpretation, ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 9th ed. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, 105.

Hoffman J (2006). Norms for Fitness Performance, and Health, pg 98-99.