Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to determine the most restrictive range of motion of the shoulder joint before treatment, as well as to examine which range of motion makes the treatment most difficult during physical therapy.

Methods:
Overall, 35 patients of a physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic who met the inclusion criteria were involved in the study. Active range of motion was measured and recorded by physiotherapists using a universal goniometer in standard positions. Functional range of motion was evaluated with the Constant-Murley Score (CMS) sub-parameters. The participants were given standard physical therapy routinely performed in the clinic, 3 sessions per week for 5 weeks. At the end of the treatment, the range of motion assessments were repeated.

Results:
Pre-treatment percentages were 43.24% for external rotation, 43.78% for internal rotation, 51.70% for abduction, 67.73% for flexion, 85.52% for extension. Post-treatment percentages were 62.50% for internal rotation, 72.54% for external rotation, 77.89% for abduction, 89.73% for flexion, 99.49% for extension. After treatment, the mean values of CMS subparameters were 9.71 ± 0.86 for flexion, 9.60 ± 0.95 for abduction, 8.57 ± 1.91 for external rotation, and 6.91 ± 2.13 for internal rotation. Pre- and post-treatment differences were observed to be statistically significant for the variables in the CMS (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:
The study showed that early recovery of rotational movements, especially the internal rotation movement, at the beginning of the treatment positively affected the treatment process.