Brass

Woodwind

Lower strings

Upper strings

All players

Measurement

n=14

n=36

n=32

n=118

n=2061

Minimum

Maximum
Shoulder external rotation – left2 9.1 8.6 8.8 8.3 8.5 3.8 17.4
  2.5 2.4 1.7 1.8 2.0    
Shoulder external rotation - right2 9.0 8.4 9.0 8.4 8.5 3.3 18.1
  1.0 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8    
Shoulder internal rotation - left2 11.7 11.2 10.9 10.5 10.7 3.7 20.5
  1.4 3.1 2.1 2.7 2.6    
Shoulder internal rotation - right2 11.2 11.0 11.3 11.0 11.0 3.1 23.0
  2.0 3.1 2.6 3.1 3.0    
Shoulder abduction - left2 13.4 12.5 12.7 12.8 12.7 4.2 24.0
  3.6 3.6 2.8 3.7 3.5    
Shoulder abduction - right2 13.6 12.8 13.4 13.3 13.2 3.9 22.7
  3.1 3.7 2.8 3.5 3.4    
Shoulder - HK – left3 43.9 41.4 40.4 40.1 40.5 5.0 90.0
  12.4 13.1 10.7 13.7 13.0    
Shoulder - HK – right3 37.7 34.1 37.5 35.5 35.5 1.0 68.0
  11.0 10.5 10.4 11.4 11.2    
Kiblers - A – left4 9.0 8.6 8.7 8.4 8.5 5.0 14.0
  1.7 1.4 1.3 1.6 1.5    
Kiblers - A – right4 9.1 9.0 8.9 8.8 8.8 5.0 16.5
  1.5 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.5    
Hand behind back – left5 24.4 22.8 23.6 22.6 23.0 0 41.0
  4.9 4.2 4.5 5.9 5.3    
Hand behind back – right5 26.3 25.6 25.7 24.2 25.1 2.5 50.0
  6.1 4.8 6.1 6.2 6.2    
Hand behind head – left6 9.9 11.1 10.0 11.0 10.7 4.0 19.0
  2.7 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.5    
Hand behind head – right6 10.6 10.6 10.6 11.2 10.9 0 17.0
  2.7 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7    

1: Includes two percussionists and four harp players.
2: Strength (measured in Newtons).
3: Hawkins-Kennedy test of extent of internal rotation of the shoulder measured at 90 degrees of shoulder flexion (measured in degrees).
4: Kibler’s lateral slide test, assessing distance between the inferior angle of the scapula and the spinous process of T7 (measured in cm).
5: The subject was instructed to put their hand behind their back and reach up as far as they could. The measure is the distance between tip of middle finger and the spinous
process of T1 – a shorter distance shows better range of movement (measured in cm).
6: The subject was instructed to put their hand behind their head and reach down as far as they could. The measure is the distance between tip of middle finger and the
spinous process of T1 – a larger distance shows better range of movement (measured in cm).
Table 4: Shoulder strength and range of motion measurements – by instrument type – females - (mean and standard deviation).