The Shoulder Adduction Test measures how far the arm moves toward the body’s midline from an abducted position. It should be distinguished from shoulder horizontal adduction, which moves the arm across the front of the body. The result helps compare sides, monitor symptoms and add context to upper-limb mobility, strength and functional reaching assessments.
A client may show limited ability to bring the arm back down from an abducted position, control the arm near the side or move comfortably through side-reaching positions. Another client may compensate by rotating the trunk or moving the shoulder blade rather than moving cleanly through the shoulder.
The Shoulder Adduction Test helps quantify movement toward the body’s midline. Because shoulder adduction can be confused with horizontal adduction, the test position and arm path should be recorded clearly.
Test name: Shoulder Adduction Test
Purpose: Measure shoulder adduction range of motion
Movement: Arm moving toward the body’s midline from abduction
Joint/body region: Shoulder complex
Plane: Frontal plane
ROM type: Active ROM, passive ROM or both
Score: Degrees of shoulder adduction or movement position depending on protocol
Equipment: Goniometer, inclinometer, smartphone ROM tool or Measurz ROM workflow
Best used with: Shoulder abduction, shoulder horizontal adduction, shoulder flexion, shoulder extension and shoulder strength testing
Key limitation: It is commonly confused with horizontal adduction, so the arm path must be defined
The Shoulder Adduction Test measures movement of the arm toward the side of the body from an abducted position. It is different from horizontal adduction, where the arm moves across the chest.
The test can be performed actively or passively. The exact setup should be repeated consistently so the result can be compared over time.
The test is used to quantify shoulder adduction, compare sides and monitor change.
It may help inform:
Upper-limb movement assessment
Shoulder mobility programming
Control through side-arm positions
Pain and symptom tracking
Pressing, pulling or reaching context
Progress across sessions
The test measures shoulder adduction ROM under the chosen setup.
It may be influenced by:
Glenohumeral movement
Scapular position
Trunk movement
Pain or symptoms
Arm starting position
Measurement method
Client effort
Movement plane
Professional stabilisation
It does not identify the exact cause of reduced movement by itself.
Active shoulder adduction measures how far the client can move the arm toward the body using their own control.
Passive shoulder adduction measures available movement when the professional guides the arm.
Active and passive values should be recorded separately.
This test may be useful for gym clients, swimmers, throwers, racquet sport athletes, overhead workers and clients where upper-limb movement tracking is relevant.
Goniometer, inclinometer or smartphone ROM tool
Treatment table, chair or standing space
Pain scale
Measurz for recording ROM, pain and symptoms
Optional video notes
Optional comparison side notes
Choose standing, sitting or supine and record the position.
Start with the arm in a standardised abducted position if measuring available adduction from abduction.
Stand beside or behind the client to observe trunk movement, scapular motion and arm path.
Define whether the test is true adduction in the frontal plane or horizontal adduction across the body. Do not mix the two.
Monitor trunk lean, shoulder blade movement and shoulder elevation.
For active ROM, ask the client to move the arm toward the side of the body through the selected plane.
For passive ROM, gently guide the arm until the first firm endpoint, symptom limit or compensation threshold.
Use the same landmarks and device placement as the chosen shoulder abduction/adduction method. Record the method clearly.
Place the inclinometer consistently on the humerus or selected segment and record placement.
Ask about pain, stretch, stiffness, pinching, symptom location and whether symptoms are familiar.
Stop if pain increases sharply, symptoms spread, the client guards, trunk compensation dominates or movement is not tolerated.
Record active/passive method, side, degrees or movement position, pain score, symptom location, arm path, test position, device used and compensation.
One to three trials may be used. Record best, average or selected trial consistently.
Use the same position, starting angle, device, arm path, endpoint and compensation rules each session.
The score may be recorded in degrees or as the position reached, depending on the protocol.
A greater value may indicate more shoulder adduction under the tested setup. A lower value may indicate less movement compared with baseline, the other side or related shoulder findings.
Interpretation is stronger when paired with pain score, symptom location, shoulder abduction, horizontal adduction, shoulder flexion, shoulder rotation, scapular movement and upper-limb strength.
The result does not explain the cause of movement difference by itself.
General shoulder ROM reliability depends on standardising the movement path, device placement and examiner procedure. A 2023 study of five clinical goniometric devices found that measurement tools can differ in concurrent validity and reliability, supporting the need to use the same device and method when tracking ROM over time.
Smartphone and camera-based shoulder ROM methods are increasingly studied, but the selected movement, device, application and testing process influence accuracy and repeatability. A 2025 study comparing visual and smartphone camera-based shoulder ROM assessment noted the importance of objective methods because visual estimation is commonly used but less reliable.
Common errors include confusing adduction with horizontal adduction, changing the starting angle, allowing trunk lean, not recording arm path, inconsistent device placement, forcing passive movement and ignoring symptoms.
Limitations include protocol variability, scapular contribution, device differences, pain, client effort and active/passive differences.
Use shoulder adduction ROM to monitor frontal-plane shoulder control, compare sides and add context to shoulder abduction, horizontal adduction, reaching, pulling, pressing and sport movement assessments.
In Measurz, record baseline shoulder adduction ROM using the chosen method. Note active or passive method, side tested, pain score, symptom location, test position, arm path, starting position, device used, trunk compensation, scapular compensation and comparison side.
Track progress across sessions and add related shoulder abduction, horizontal adduction, rotation, strength or functional movement findings.
Shoulder Abduction Test
Shoulder Horizontal Adduction Test
Shoulder Horizontal Abduction Test
Shoulder Flexion Test
Shoulder Extension Test
Shoulder Internal Rotation Test
Shoulder External Rotation Test
Shoulder Strength Testing
It measures movement of the arm toward the body’s midline from an abducted position.
No. Shoulder adduction occurs in the frontal plane, while horizontal adduction moves the arm across the front of the body.
Both can be useful, but active and passive results should be recorded separately.
Record side, method, arm path, starting position, score, pain, symptoms and compensation.
Use the same position, starting angle, arm path, device and endpoint each session.
Shoulder adduction measures arm movement toward the body from abduction.
It should not be confused with horizontal adduction.
The arm path and starting position must be recorded.
Measurz should capture score, side, pain, method and compensation.
Clarkson, H. M. (2020). Musculoskeletal assessment: Joint range of motion, muscle testing, and function (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Kiatkulanusorn, S., et al. (2023). Analysis of the concurrent validity and reliability of five common clinical goniometric devices. Scientific Reports, 13, 20710. Needs verification.
Wang, C., et al. (2025). How do visual and smartphone camera-based shoulder ranges of motion compare with goniometry? JSES International. Needs verification.
