The Shoulder Isometric Endurance Tests at 10% body weight assess the time a client can hold a shoulder position against a load equivalent to 10% of body weight. This is a higher-load endurance option that may be suitable for stronger or athletic clients when the position and load are standardised.
Shoulder endurance is important in overhead sport, gym training, work tasks and athletic positions requiring sustained shoulder control. While maximal isometric strength tests show peak force capacity, endurance tests provide additional information about how long the shoulder can maintain a position under load.
The 10% BW version is more demanding than the 5% BW version and may be more suitable for stronger or well-trained clients. It should be interpreted carefully because formal norms for this exact protocol are limited.
Test name: Shoulder Isometric Endurance Tests — 10% BW
Category: Shoulder strength endurance / isometric endurance
Load: 10% of body weight
Test positions: Abduction, external rotation and flexion
Primary score: Time held in seconds
Best suited to: Stronger, trained or athletic clients
Key limitation: Exact published norms for 10% BW endurance holds are limited.
This assessment requires the client to hold a shoulder position against a load equal to 10% of their body weight. Common positions include shoulder abduction, shoulder external rotation and shoulder flexion.
The test records how long the client can maintain the position without losing form, compensating or stopping due to fatigue or symptoms.
The 10% BW shoulder endurance tests may be used to assess:
Shoulder isometric endurance
Tolerance to sustained shoulder loading
Fatigue response in specific shoulder positions
Side-to-side differences
Baseline and retest performance
Progress after shoulder endurance training
Sport or gym-related shoulder capacity
The primary score is:
Time held in seconds
The result may reflect:
Shoulder muscle endurance
Rotator cuff contribution
Deltoid endurance
Scapular control
Trunk control
Load tolerance
Pain or symptom response
Familiarisation and motivation
It does not isolate one muscle or confirm the reason for reduced performance.
The 10% BW version may be useful for:
Overhead athletes
Gym and strength-training clients
Contact sport athletes
Throwing athletes
Racquet sport athletes
Professionals monitoring shoulder endurance
Clients who find 5% BW too easy
It may not be suitable for clients with low current shoulder tolerance or those unable to safely hold the required positions.
Dumbbell, cuff weight or equivalent external load
Stopwatch or Measurz stopwatch
Body mass measurement
Stable testing surface
Optional inclinometer to standardise shoulder position
Optional AR measurement to document setup and arm position
Optional Measurz metronome if using any rhythm-based related shoulder endurance protocol
MAT isometric measurement tools, including Anker, Gripper and Muscle Meter, for related shoulder isometric strength testing
Measurz / MAT platform for recording load, side, time, symptoms and retest comparison
The 10% BW test is primarily a time-to-task-failure endurance test. For a fuller shoulder profile, pair it with MAT isometric tools such as Anker, Gripper or Muscle Meter to record related peak force or strength measures.
Calculate:
10% body weight = body weight × 0.10
For example:
70 kg client = 7 kg load
80 kg client = 8 kg load
90 kg client = 9 kg load
Round load consistently and record the exact load used.
Possible positions include:
Shoulder abduction: arm held out to the side at the selected angle.
Shoulder flexion: arm held forward at the selected angle.
External rotation: shoulder and elbow position must be standardised and recorded.
Explain the position and stopping criteria.
Position the client and apply the load.
Start timing once the client reaches the correct position.
Stop timing when the client loses position, compensates, drops the arm, reports intolerable symptoms or chooses to stop.
Record time in seconds.
Repeat on the other side if appropriate.
Record pain, symptoms and compensation.
The primary score is:
Time held in seconds
Interpretation should consider:
Load used
Body mass
Side tested
Dominance
Shoulder angle
External rotation position
Pain or symptoms
Scapular compensation
Trunk lean
Fatigue behaviour
Published normative data for the exact 10% BW shoulder isometric endurance protocol are limited. Therefore, interpretation should prioritise:
Baseline comparison
Side-to-side comparison
Internal Measurz benchmarks
Sport and activity demands
Symptom response
Comparison with the 5% BW version
Use these as broad practical field bands only:
Strong endurance at 10% BW: 45 seconds or more
Moderate endurance: 25–45 seconds
Developing endurance: 15–25 seconds
Low current tolerance: under 15 seconds
These are not formal norms and should not be used as pass/fail criteria.
Direct reliability evidence for the exact 10% BW shoulder endurance holds is limited. However, shoulder isometric strength research supports the importance of standardised position, movement direction, device and protocol.
A 2023 study published normative isometric shoulder strength values in healthy adults and highlighted that age, sex, body size, activity level and dominance can influence shoulder strength.
Research on test-retest reliability of isometric shoulder strength during abduction and rotation tasks also supports the importance of standardising shoulder position and measurement method.
Common errors include:
Incorrect load calculation
Rounding load inconsistently
Changing shoulder angle between tests
Allowing trunk lean
Allowing scapular elevation
Not recording symptoms
Comparing 5% BW and 10% BW results directly
Testing without familiarisation
Using different equipment between sessions
These tests can help professionals:
Monitor shoulder endurance under higher load
Compare sides
Track endurance changes over time
Identify positions that fatigue earlier
Combine endurance data with shoulder strength and range results
Build internal Measurz benchmarks for sport or training groups
Record:
Test name
Load percentage: 10% BW
Exact load used
Body mass
Side tested
Dominance
Test position: abduction, external rotation or flexion
Shoulder angle
Time held
Units: seconds
Pain score
Symptoms
Compensations
Reason for stopping
Retest date
Related shoulder strength and endurance tests
Measurz can record endurance hold times, while MAT isometric tools such as Anker, Gripper and Muscle Meter can support related strength testing. The inclinometer can help standardise shoulder angle, the stopwatch can record hold time, and Measurz can store this alongside ROM, orthopaedic tests, outcome measures and other shoulder assessments.
Shoulder Isometric Endurance Tests — 5% BW
Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test
Isometric Shoulder Abduction
Isometric Shoulder External Rotation
Athletic Shoulder Test
Push-Up Test
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test
It measures how long the client can maintain a shoulder position against a load equal to 10% of body weight.
It is generally more suitable for stronger, trained or athletic clients who can safely tolerate higher shoulder loading.
Not necessarily. It is simply more demanding. The best version depends on the client’s capacity, goals and test purpose.
Published norms for this exact endurance protocol are limited, so baseline, side-to-side comparison and internal benchmarks are recommended.
Yes. The endurance test itself records hold time, while MAT tools such as Anker, Gripper and Muscle Meter can be used for related isometric shoulder strength testing.
The 10% BW shoulder endurance test is a higher-load shoulder endurance assessment.
The primary score is time held in seconds.
Exact protocol and load must be recorded.
Published norms are limited, so baseline and internal comparison are important.
Measurz can track side, load, time, symptoms and progress.
Bradley, H., & Pierpoint, L. (2023). Normative values of isometric shoulder strength among healthy adults. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.83938
Westrick, R. B., Duffey, M. L., Cameron, K. L., Gerber, J. P., & Owens, B. D. (2013). Isometric shoulder strength reference values for physically active collegiate males and females. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy.
