shoulder mobility test?

[mac11]

Joined a boxing training program and was asked to do this test. Could do it no problem.
A lot of the guys there couldn't. These guys were bigger/more muscular than me. Dude broke out a rule and some of the guys were a good six inches off.

WHat does this test mean really?
Should a guy who is fit and muscular be able to do this test or is it harder for them?

 

[SteveX]

Considering you really went into no detail about the test other than there was a ruler involved it's kind of hard to really answer your question.

Chances are it was a back scratch test like the one below:

If that's the case then symmetry left to right is probably a better indicator than the actual distance between the hands when determining if there is an issue.

 

[MightyMX]

Steve, what can I do to get better at this? With my left arm behind my fingers barely touch, with my right arm behind they don't even get close.

 

[Tosa]

Many "assessments" aren't very good predictors of risk of injury or pain. IIRC, the best predictors of risk of shoulder injury or pain is anterior tipping of the scapula, and lack of overhead mobility.

With the ruler test, it doesn't clearly measure any one thing - if you have a poor score, is it lack of rom with the top or bottom arm that's the issue? Also, the bottom arm is placed in a weird position with a lot of internal rotation that doesn't seem to reflect any kind of ROM that's actually required of a person. I'd also speculate that the test requires an individual with a thicker torso to internally rotate their shoulder more than an individual with a smaller torso.

 

[pliftkl]

IIRC, the best predictors of risk of shoulder injury or pain is anterior tipping of the scapula, and lack of overhead mobility.

How does one measure the overhead mobility?

 

[Badger67]

Speed's test for strain, Hawkin's for impingement/sprain, Neer's test for impingement are used for overhead mobility/strain/sprain assessments.You can youtube these as a reference.

Alternatively, you can stand with feet in a neutral stance, shoulder flexion raise arms so your fingertips are pointing to the ceiling and then take a lateral view. If your ears show anteriorly to the humerus, this is generally a decent indicator of good mobility. If your ears only show posteriorly to the humerus, this usually means you can't comfortably get to an overhead position without posteriorly tipping the scapula or arching the back (something to watch out for in the observation, or during OHP's). For best results, perform this in both a set rhomboids and non set rhomboids to see the difference.
Then there is also type 3 acromion which impedes the comfortable and functional range of the glenohumeral joint.
Google scapular rhythm, it will help you understand the scapular plane and its articulation with the humerus better.
Plus other methods out there.

I don't like appley's scratch test much except to see if it issues pain to the person or apprehension to move. Otherwise, it is pretty much as Tosa said. This is why many PT's hate the FMS system by what's his name.

 

[JRT6]

Sadly I don't need a test to know I have immobile shoulders.

 

[Tosa]

How does one measure the overhead mobility?

What Badger said.