The Shoulder Horizontal Adduction Test measures how far the arm can move across the body from a 90-degree flexed position. It is useful for tracking cross-body shoulder ROM, comparing sides and adding context to posterior shoulder mobility, throwing and upper-body movement.
A client may report tightness reaching across the body, discomfort with cross-body positions or side-to-side differences after throwing or pressing. The Shoulder Horizontal Adduction Test provides a repeatable way to measure this movement.
The MAT article describes the client seated or standing with the arm flexed in front of the body at 90 degrees, using transverse-plane measurement with the device on the humerus. The procedure note lists at least 50 degrees as the practical target; the following line appears to contain a likely wording inconsistency by referring to 10–20 degrees of shoulder adduction rather than horizontal adduction.
Test name: Shoulder Horizontal Adduction Test
Purpose: Assess horizontal adduction ROM
What it assesses: Cross-body shoulder movement in the transverse plane
Equipment: Measurz inclinometer with transverse-plane function
Key finding: Horizontal adduction angle in degrees
Best used with: Shoulder horizontal abduction, internal rotation, external rotation, posterior shoulder mobility and throwing assessment
Key limitation: Trunk rotation and scapular movement can affect the result
The Shoulder Horizontal Adduction Test measures how far the arm can move across the body from a 90-degree shoulder flexion position.
It is used to assess cross-body shoulder ROM, compare sides and track progress.
It measures shoulder horizontal adduction ROM. It does not diagnose posterior shoulder tightness, AC joint symptoms or shoulder pathology.
Active ROM is measured when the client moves the arm across the body. Passive ROM may be recorded if the professional assists. Record the method clearly.
Throwers, swimmers, gym clients, racquet sport athletes, contact sport athletes and clients with cross-body shoulder mobility goals.
Measurz inclinometer with transverse-plane function, treatment space, Measurz app and notes for side, pain, symptoms, active/passive method and compensation.
Position the client seated or standing with the arm flexed to 90 degrees in front of the body. Place the device on top of the humerus and set the transverse-plane feature to zero. Ask the client to horizontally adduct the shoulder across the midline as far as possible. Save the result at maximal ROM.
Record horizontal adduction ROM in degrees. The MAT procedure note lists at least 50 degrees as the practical target. Because the page also contains a likely wording inconsistency, use the actual recorded test result, baseline and side comparison as the main guide.
Evidence level: Level 3, limited exact norms for this protocol.
Use 50 degrees as the practical MAT procedure reference, not a universal threshold.
Shoulder ROM measurement with smartphone or inclinometer tools can be reliable when the setup is standardised, but transverse-plane shoulder measures require careful control of trunk and scapular compensation.
Common errors include trunk rotation, scapular protraction compensation, elbow bending, poor device alignment, confusing shoulder adduction and horizontal adduction, and overinterpreting a single value.
Use this test to monitor cross-body ROM, compare sides and add context to posterior shoulder mobility, throwing, pressing and upper-body movement.
Record side, horizontal adduction angle, active/passive method, pain score, symptom location, trunk rotation, scapular movement, arm starting position, device placement and comparison side.
Shoulder Horizontal Abduction Test
Shoulder Internal Rotation 90° Test
Shoulder Adduction Test
Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test
Throwing Assessment
CKCUEST
It measures how far the arm can move across the body in the transverse plane.
The MAT procedure note lists at least 50 degrees, but use baseline and side comparison as the main guide.
No. Shoulder adduction and horizontal adduction use different starting positions and should be recorded separately.
Trunk rotation, elbow bending and excessive scapular movement should be minimised or recorded.
The test measures horizontal adduction ROM.
Use transverse-plane measurement.
Control trunk and scapular compensation.
Use 50 degrees cautiously as a practical guide.
Track side comparison in Measurz.
Shimizu, H., et al. (2022). Validity and reliability of a smartphone application for self-measurement of active shoulder range of motion in a standing position among healthy adults. JSES International, 6(4), 675–682.
Kiatkulanusorn, S., et al. (2023). Analysis of the concurrent validity and reliability of five common clinical goniometric devices. Scientific Reports, 13, 20915.
Sinden, K., et al. (2021). The reliability of the Microsoft Kinect and ambulatory sensor-based motion tracking devices to measure shoulder range of motion: A systematic review. Sensors, 21(24), 8186.
