Recurrent transient subluxation of the shoulder.

We studied thirty-three normal pa tients, eighteen women and fifteen men, for normal motion and the amount of elbow motion required for fifteen activities of daily living. The amounts of elbow fiexion and forearm rotation (pronation and supina tion) were measured simultaneously by means of an electrogoniometer. Activities of dressing and hygiene require elbow positioning from about 140 degrees of fiexion needed to reach the occiput to 15 degrees of flex ion required to tie a shoe. Most of these activities are performed with the forearm in zero to SO degrees of supination. Other activities of daily living (such as eat ing, using a telephone, or opening a door) are accom plished with arcs of motion of varying magnitudes. Most of the activities of daily living that were studied in this project can be accomplished with 100 degrees of elbow flexion (from 30 to 130 degrees) and 100 degrees of forearm rotation (50 degrees of prona tion and 50 degrees of supination). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These data, not previously recorded, may be used to provide an objective basis for the determination of disability impairment, to deter mine the optimum position for elbow splinting or ar throdesis, and to assist in the design of elbow pros theses. The motion needed to perform essential daily activities is obtainable with a successful total elbow ar