title: Preliminary studies in measuring range of motion in normal and painful stiff shoulders.
abstract: This study has been prompted by the need to provide basic data for prospective studies in the management of the painful stiff shoulder. We have used a hydrogoniometric technique of proven accuracy to measure passive movement at the gleno-humeral joint in a normal population, patients currently attending with a painful stiff shoulder, and a retrospective group. We have shown that there are significant age and sex differences in the range of motion of normal and affected groups. A significant number (42 per cent) of patients had persisting limitation of range of the gleno-humeral joint six years after the onset of the disability. The study indicates the importance of matching patients for age and sex, and the need for long-term follow-up for meaningful results.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods