Elbow Strength in Reference to Various Shoulder Positions

The objective of this study was to accurately characterize the elbow strength capabilities of humans, which is critical for supporting crewmember on-orbit activities. Space crewmembers depend heavily on their arm strength, it is essential to provide elbow/joint strength data when the shoulder is in various positions within a three dimensional space. This study measured six individuals’ elbow strengths at 12 shoulder positions using a standard LIDO Multi-Joint II isokinetic dynamometer and LabView data acquisition system. Findings showed that elbow strength decreased with outward shoulder joint rotation and with decreased shoulder flexed position compared to other possible shoulder positions.