The Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test, or PSET, is an isometric endurance test performed to task failure. Peer-reviewed research has investigated intra-rater reliability, inter-rater reliability and minimal detectable change for the PSET, supporting its use when the test is standardised.
Posterior shoulder endurance can be important for overhead sports, throwing, swimming, racquet sports, gym-based training and tasks requiring sustained shoulder control. Maximal strength tests can be useful, but they do not always show how well the shoulder girdle maintains position under sustained demand.
The Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test provides a practical way to assess time to task failure in a standardised shoulder position. It should be interpreted as part of a broader shoulder assessment profile, not as a standalone diagnosis or clearance tool.
Test name: Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test
Common abbreviation: PSET
Category: Shoulder strength endurance / isometric endurance
Primary score: Time to task failure in seconds
Position: Prone, shoulder abducted and externally rotated
Load: Standardised external load
Best suited to: Overhead, contact, gym and field sport clients
Key limitation: Protocol details must be precise because load, arm length and position change the result.
The PSET is an isometric endurance test where the client holds the shoulder in a standardised position against a defined external load until they can no longer maintain position.
Research has examined the PSET’s measurement properties, including reliability and minimal detectable change, to inform practical use in elite and active populations.
The PSET may be used to assess:
Posterior shoulder endurance
Shoulder girdle isometric endurance
Fatigue tolerance in a shoulder-elevated position
Side-to-side differences
Baseline and retest performance
Response to shoulder endurance training
Shoulder performance context in overhead athletes
The primary score is:
Time to task failure in seconds
The result may reflect:
Posterior deltoid endurance
Rotator cuff contribution
Scapular stabiliser endurance
Trunk and neck control
Load tolerance
Pain or symptom response
Familiarisation and motivation
It does not isolate one muscle and should not be used alone to determine shoulder status.
The PSET may be useful for:
Overhead athletes
Throwing athletes
Racquet sport athletes
Swimmers
Gym and strength-training clients
Contact sport athletes
Professionals monitoring shoulder endurance over time
It may not be appropriate if the client cannot safely tolerate the prone shoulder position or external loading.
Treatment table, bench or stable testing surface
Stopwatch
Standardised external load
Measuring tape or AR measurement tool if arm length or setup distance needs to be recorded
Optional inclinometer to help standardise shoulder angle
Optional Measurz stopwatch for timing
Optional MAT isometric measurement tools, including Anker, Gripper or Muscle Meter, for related shoulder isometric strength testing
Measurz entry for recording time, side, load, pain, symptoms and retest comparison
For endurance testing, the main score is usually time to task failure. For broader shoulder profiling, MAT tools such as Anker, Gripper and Muscle Meter can support related isometric strength measures that complement endurance results.
The client lies prone on a table or bench.
The test shoulder is positioned in approximately 90 degrees of shoulder abduction.
The arm is positioned in external rotation according to the chosen protocol.
The external load is applied consistently.
The opposite arm and trunk remain relaxed and stable.
Explain the test and stopping criteria.
Ask the client to hold the required shoulder position.
Start timing when the correct position is achieved.
Stop timing when the client can no longer maintain the required position, compensates significantly, reports intolerable symptoms or chooses to stop.
Record time in seconds.
Repeat on the other side if appropriate.
Record side-to-side difference and symptom response.
The primary score is:
Time to task failure in seconds
Interpretation should consider:
Side tested
Dominance
Load used
Arm length or torque calculation
Position accuracy
Pain or symptoms
Scapular compensation
Trunk rotation or neck tension
Familiarisation
Published reference values for the PSET are more limited than for larger functional tests, but useful comparison values are available. Research on PSET measurement properties supports the need to interpret scores alongside protocol, population and measurement error.
Use these as broad context only:
Strong posterior shoulder endurance: 70 seconds or more
Typical active adult / athlete context: 50–70 seconds
Developing endurance or notable fatigue: 30–50 seconds
Low current endurance profile: under 30 seconds
For unilateral testing, side-to-side comparison is often more useful than general norms. Record:
Dominant and non-dominant side
Absolute time difference
Percentage difference
Symptoms
Movement quality
Relevant sport demands
Peer-reviewed research has specifically investigated intra-rater reliability, inter-rater reliability and minimal detectable change for the PSET. This supports its practical use when the protocol is standardised and when small changes are interpreted cautiously.
Another reproducibility and discriminant validity study reported ICC, SEM and MDC values for the PSET in painful and non-painful populations, reinforcing the importance of considering measurement error and context when interpreting change.
Common errors include:
Using an inconsistent load
Not accounting for arm length
Poor shoulder position
Allowing the arm to drop gradually without stopping the test
Excessive trunk rotation
Scapular compensation
Comparing different protocols
Not recording symptoms
Not recording dominance
The PSET provides useful endurance information but should be combined with strength, range of motion, control and sport-specific findings.
The PSET can help professionals:
Monitor posterior shoulder endurance
Compare dominant and non-dominant sides
Track progress after endurance-focused training
Support overhead athlete shoulder profiling
Identify fatigue-related changes in shoulder control
Combine endurance findings with isometric strength and movement-quality tests
Record:
Test name: Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test
Side tested
Dominance
Time to task failure
Units: seconds
Load used
Arm length or torque method if relevant
Shoulder position
Pain score
Symptoms
Reason for stopping
Scapular compensation
Trunk compensation
Retest date
Related shoulder strength, range and endurance findings
Measurz can store the PSET alongside shoulder ROM, orthopaedic tests, outcome measures and isometric strength results. MAT isometric tools such as Anker, Gripper and Muscle Meter can be used for related strength measures, while the Measurz stopwatch, inclinometer and AR measurement tools can help standardise timing, position and setup.
Shoulder Isometric Endurance Test — 5% BW
Shoulder Isometric Endurance Test — 10% BW
Athletic Shoulder Test
Isometric Shoulder External Rotation
Isometric Shoulder Abduction
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test
Push-Up Test
It measures how long the client can maintain a loaded posterior shoulder position before task failure.
Around 50–70 seconds may be a useful active-adult reference range, with values above 70 seconds suggesting strong endurance. Population and protocol matter.
Yes, when appropriate. Side-to-side comparison can be very useful, especially for overhead and unilateral sport demands.
No. A low score may suggest reduced endurance or poor tolerance in the test position, but it does not diagnose a condition.
Different loads change the difficulty of the test. Load, arm length and position should be recorded for meaningful retesting.
The PSET assesses posterior shoulder isometric endurance.
The primary score is time to task failure.
Published evidence supports reliability when the protocol is standardised.
General reference values exist but should be applied cautiously.
Measurz can track time, load, side, symptoms and progress over time.
Moran, R. W., Schneiders, A. G., Major, K. M., & Sullivan, S. J. (2021). Intra-rater reliability, inter-rater reliability and minimal detectable change of the posterior shoulder endurance test in elite athletes. Physical Therapy in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.02.004
Evans, N. A. (2020). Reproducibility and discriminant validity of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test.
