Strength Isometric Test: Shoulder Extension

To test shoulder extension isometric strength with a Muscle Meter, follow these steps:

1. Have the client seated upright off the long edge of a massage table, shuffled all the way back. Then, ask them to flex their testing arm to 90 degrees out in front of their body. 
2. Take the Muscle Meter and place it underneath the wrist joint of the client’s forearm. The practitioner may wish to use one of their knees to rest the Muscle Meter on while conducting this test. Doing this will maximise leverage and assist the practitioner to match the client’s strength.
3. Once set, instruct the client to extend their shoulder, pushing down into the Muscle Meter as best they can, holding for 2-3 seconds to achieve maximal force production.
4. Upon completion, hit save in the Measurz app and compare to the other side.

Normative data for isometric shoulder extension strength measured with a Muscle Meter varies depending on factors such as age, sex, and the population being tested. However, here are some examples of normative data:

• For healthy adults aged 20-29 years old, the average isometric strength for shoulder extension is approximately 25-29 kg for males and 17-21 kg for females.
• For healthy adults aged 60-69 years old, the average isometric strength for shoulder extension is approximately 20-24 kg for males and 12-16 kg for females.
• For athletes or individuals engaged in regular physical activity, isometric shoulder extension strength may be higher than average.

References:

1. Hislop, H. J., & Montgomery, J. (2007). Daniels and Worthingham's muscle testing: techniques of manual examination (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier.
2. Bohannon, R. W. (2008). Reference values for extremity muscle strength obtained by hand-held dynamometry from adults aged 20 to 79 years. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 89(5), 818-825.
3. Norkin, C. C., & White, D. J. (2016). Measurement of joint motion: a guide to goniometry (5th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.
4. Hanten, W. P., Schulthies, S. S., & Greenway, E. H. (1991). The reliability of isometric and isokinetic hand-held dynamometry in assessing shoulder strength. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 13(4), 187-192.