National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

At which anatomical landmark would a therapist assess range of motion for shoulder abduction?

1. Acromion process

2. Coracoid process

3. Glenohumeral joint

4. Sternal notch

The correct answer is: Acromion process

Assessing range of motion for shoulder abduction at the acromion process is appropriate because it is a prominent bony landmark on the superior aspect of the shoulder. The acromion serves as a reference point for measuring the angle of abduction when the arm is raised laterally away from the body. In terms of anatomical positioning, when a therapist measures shoulder abduction, they typically position the goniometer with its fulcrum over the acromion. The stationary arm of the goniometer aligns with the midline of the trunk, while the moving arm follows the movement of the humerus. This setup ensures an accurate measurement of the shoulder's range of motion during abduction. The other choices, while they are important anatomical landmarks, do not serve this specific function in measuring shoulder abduction. The coracoid process is a smaller projection that does not provide the same reference for abduction. The glenohumeral joint is the actual joint where motion occurs but is not as effective for establishing a fulcrum point for measurement. The sternal notch, being located at the base of the neck, is unrelated to shoulder motions and serves a different anatomical significance. Thus, the acromion process is the most relevant landmark for