Which position describes the upper extremity with abduction to 90 degrees, internal rotation at the shoulder, and elbows flexed to 90 degrees?

• A. Anatomical position
• B. Zero position
• C. T position
• D. Functional position

Answer: (C)

The situation is describing a standard way to name the arm when it forms a recognizable silhouette: the arm is held out to the side at shoulder height (abduction 90 degrees) with the elbow bent to 90 degrees and the shoulder internally rotated. This combination creates a shape that one can visualize as a letter T from the front, so it’s called the T position. It’s a common reference posture used in PT to describe a symmetric, stable alignment of the upper extremity for evaluation or positioning.

In contrast, anatomical position has the arms by the sides with the palms facing forward, and zero position is neutral without the arm abduction. The functional position typically refers to a 90-degree elbow bend and about 90-degree shoulder abduction used for functional tasks, without specifying the particular rotation that defines the T silhouette.