The Shoulder Isometric Endurance Tests at 5% body weight assess how long a client can hold selected shoulder positions against a load equal to 5% of body weight. This is a lower-load option than the 10% BW version and may be more suitable for general clients or lower-load endurance monitoring.
Shoulder endurance is important for activities requiring sustained arm positioning, repeated upper-limb loading or overhead control. The 5% BW shoulder endurance tests provide a practical lower-load option for assessing shoulder endurance across different positions.
The test should be interpreted using baseline comparison, side-to-side comparison and internal benchmarks because formal published norms for this exact protocol are limited.
Test name: Shoulder Isometric Endurance Tests — 5% BW
Category: Shoulder isometric endurance
Load: 5% body weight
Positions: Abduction, external rotation, flexion
Primary score: Time held in seconds
Best suited to: General clients and lower-load endurance monitoring
Key limitation: Exact published norms are limited.
The client holds a selected shoulder position against a load equal to 5% of body weight. The score is how long the position can be maintained with correct form.
Common positions include:
Shoulder abduction
Shoulder flexion
Shoulder external rotation
The 5% BW tests may be used to assess:
Lower-load shoulder endurance
Side-to-side differences
Fatigue response
Baseline and retest change
Progress toward higher-load testing
Shoulder capacity in gym, sport or work-related tasks
The primary score is:
Time held in seconds
The result may reflect:
Deltoid endurance
Rotator cuff contribution
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 endurance.
The 5% BW version may be useful for:
General fitness clients
Overhead sport clients
Gym and strength-training clients
Clients needing lower-load endurance monitoring
Professionals comparing sides
Clients progressing toward the 10% BW version
Dumbbell, cuff weight or equivalent load
Body mass measurement
Stopwatch or Measurz stopwatch
Optional inclinometer for shoulder angle
Optional Measurz AR measurement to document setup
Optional Measurz metronome for related rhythm-based endurance protocols
MAT isometric tools — Anker, Gripper and Muscle Meter — for related shoulder strength testing
Measurz platform for time, side, load, pain, symptoms and retest comparison
5% body weight = body weight × 0.05
Examples:
60 kg client = 3 kg
70 kg client = 3.5 kg
80 kg client = 4 kg
Record the exact load used.
Select and standardise the shoulder position.
Apply the 5% BW load.
Start timing when the correct position is achieved.
Stop timing when the client loses position, compensates, reports intolerable symptoms or chooses to stop.
Record time in seconds.
Repeat on the other side if appropriate.
The primary score is:
Time held in seconds
Interpretation should consider load, side, dominance, shoulder angle, symptoms, compensation and fatigue behaviour.
Published normative data for the exact 5% BW shoulder endurance protocol are limited. Related isometric shoulder strength data show that age, sex, body size, activity level and dominance can influence shoulder performance.
Use these as broad field-use bands only:
Strong endurance: 90 seconds or more
Good endurance: 60–90 seconds
Moderate endurance: 30–60 seconds
Low current tolerance: under 30 seconds
These are practical benchmarks, not formal norms.
Direct reliability evidence for this exact 5% BW endurance protocol is limited. Broader shoulder isometric testing literature supports the importance of standardised position, procedure and measurement method.
Common errors include:
Incorrect load calculation
Changing shoulder angle
Allowing trunk lean
Shoulder shrugging
Comparing 5% and 10% BW directly
Not recording side or symptoms
Using different equipment on retest
The 5% BW test can help monitor lower-load shoulder endurance, compare sides, track progress and build internal Measurz reference data.
Record:
Test name
Load percentage: 5% BW
Exact load
Body mass
Side tested
Dominance
Test position
Shoulder angle
Time held
Pain score
Symptoms
Compensations
Reason for stopping
Retest date
Measurz can record this endurance result beside ROM, orthopaedic tests, outcome measures and related isometric strength measures using Anker, Gripper or Muscle Meter.
Shoulder Isometric Endurance Tests — 10% BW
Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test
Isometric Shoulder External Rotation
Isometric Shoulder Abduction
Athletic Shoulder Test
Push-Up Test
It measures how long a client can hold a shoulder position against a load equal to 5% of body weight.
It may suit general clients, lower-load endurance monitoring or clients progressing toward higher-load testing.
Holding 60–90 seconds may suggest good endurance, while over 90 seconds may suggest strong endurance. These are practical benchmarks, not formal norms.
The 5% BW version is a lower-load shoulder endurance test.
The score is time held in seconds.
Load and position must be standardised.
Formal norms are limited.
Measurz can track side, load, 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.
