Liz Young’s Assessment Project
Description of Rating Scale
Problem
1.
 To measure the ability of a physical therapy client to go through full range of motion in
the shoulder region; including flexion, extension, abduction, and internal and external
rotation.
Refining the Problem
2.
 The shoulder range of motion rating scale is designed for a population of people who
have suffered from a shoulder injury. All ages, genders, and body types are included.
3.
 The rating scale will include a pre-test to determine the clients’ baseline flexibility level.
After a month of training, stretching and flexibility programs, there will be a post-test.
The post-test will be used to determine if the client increased their shoulder flexibility.
The post-measurement assessment will determine if the clients range of motion
improved, which will determine if the training program was successful.
4.
 I have selected to evaluate shoulder range of motion because especially with age, people
tend to lose range of motion in this area. Loss of motion in the shoulder region can affect
things in daily life, like reaching up to grab something, lifting your child, or doing
household chores. Through a stretching program, the client can improve the range of
motion in their shoulder.
Instrumentation and Methodology
5.
 The scale is based on percentages. The goal is to have 100% range of motion for each
motion the shoulder can perform (flexion, extension, etc.). For example, you should have
170 degrees of shoulder flexion. If the client only has 85 degrees shoulder flexion, they
only have 50%. This is not good shoulder range of motion and the program would be
designed to increase this to a higher percent. The higher the percent total range of
motion, the better. Anything under 80% needs to be improved. Anything from 80-100%
is good range of motion, and should be maintained by a normal stretching routine.
6.
 Equipment used: goniometer to measure range of motion degrees.
 Facility: the Physical Therapy Office
 Preparation of testing station: the station should be in a private room. The client should
wear a tank top to ensure that proper measurements are taken at the shoulder joint.
 Time for administration: 10 minutes for actual testing, 10 minutes for evaluation of
results.
 Type of training the user needs to have: the test administrator should have training using
a goniometer. They should know how to record the proper measurements without
estimating the degrees.
Analysis of Results
7.


The passing grade comes with demonstrating a range of motion (in each movement) of
80% or higher. These numbers will not be converted to letter grades. However, it may
be helpful to think of the percentage as a letter grade achieve in school (90-100% is an A,
80-90 B, 70-80 C, 60-70 D, anything lower than a 60% is failing and a shoulder
flexibility program needs to be created). If the client has less than 80% range of motion,
the physical therapist will create a program that will include stretching techniques to
increase flexibility in the joint. Treatment may also include massage, heat or electric
stimulation. The client can continue to do all of their daily activities, they will just need
to set aside time to stretch daily.
The evaluation will be summative because it will be more beneficial to judge the success
of the program at the end of the programs activities. The focus of this program is on the
outcome because we want to see if the client had an overall improved range of motion. If
their final range of motion is greater than their initial, their flexibility has improved.
Rating Scale
Shoulder Flexibility Assessment Form
The purpose of this form is to measure the clients shoulder range of motion. Using a
goniometer, the physical therapist will measure the degree of flexibility for each motion of the
shoulder. The number of degree should be written in the ‘clients’ range of motion column’.
This number should be divided by the normal range of motion to get the percent of full range of
motion. For example, if the client was measured to have 85° of shoulder flexion, they would
have 50% full range of motion (85/170=.5 or 50%). Any percent of full range of motion under
80% should be improved.
Clients Name: _____________________
Age: _______
Initial Test Date: _______________
Motion of
Shoulder
Flexion
Extension
Internal Rotation
External Rotation
Abduction
Normal Range of
Motion (°)
170
50
80
90
150
Clients Range of
Motion (°)
Clients Percent of Full
Range of Motion
Post Test Date: _______________
Motion of
Shoulder
Flexion
Extension
Internal
Rotation
External
Rotation
Abduction
Normal
Range
of
Motion
(°)
170
50
80
Clients
Initial
Range of
Motion
(°)
Clients Initial
Percent of
Full Range of
Motion
Clients
Final
Range of
Motion
(°)
Clients
Final
Percent
Range of
Motion
Clients
Improvement
in Range of
Motion (%)
90
150
Reference
Washington State Department of Health Services. Range of Joint Motion Evaluation Chart.
Retrieved May 6, 2013, from http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ms/forms/13_585a.pdf