Distribution of joint mobility in a normal population: results of the use of fixed torque measuring devices

Fixed torque measuring devices were used to measure the range of movement at three sites in 364 normal adolescents and young adults. The results confirm the findings of less reproducible measurement techniques that joint mobility at a particular site follows a Gaussian distribution with a wide range in a normal population. In addition, apart from very few individuals, mobility at one site could not predict mobility elsewhere. It seems likely that the degree of connective tissue laxity generally is of lesser importance than local factors in determining the range of joint mobility at a given site in normal individuals.