Normal values for range of shoulder abduction in men and women aged over 65 years

The range of movement of the shoulder in abduction at 45 degrees of flexion was objectively measured using a standard technique in a demographically representative survey of 1000 men and women living in their own homes. Sampling was stratified to obtain approximately equal numbers of those aged 65-74 years and those aged 75 and over. The response rate was 80%. Normal values for shoulder abduction grouped by age and sex are presented as frequency distributions, means and deciles. Information about health problems was also recorded in the survey; the prevalences of these problems and their associations with shoulder abduction have been investigated. Women had significantly lower values for shoulder abduction than men. For both sexes values were on average about 30 degrees lower than those found in younger adults, and about half of the elderly group had values below 120 degrees. The prevalence of specified health problems was high with only 3% of the older group and 6% of the younger group being free from all the specified health problems. There was a significant independent negative association between shoulder abduction and both age and reported health. The associations were more marked in women than in men. This was so for both a cumulated 14-item health index and selected individual health items which included arthritis, lack of mobility and incontinence. The decile values for shoulder abduction for women without these health problems are presented. This provides more appropriate normal data for them; it is more normally distributed and reduces the percentage with a shoulder abduction less than 120 degrees to 30%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)