Measuring shoulder internal rotation range of motion: a comparison of 3 techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the reliability of shoulder internal rotation (IR) range of motion (ROM) measured using 3 different methods: standard technique, manual scapular stabilization technique, and visual inspection technique.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Clinic-based sports medicine center.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 56 unimpaired high-school athlete volunteers.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Shoulder IR ROM was measured by using a digital inclinometer with each of the 3 techniques. All measurements were performed independently by 2 groups of examiners and repeated to determine intra- and interrater reliabilities.


RESULTS
IR ROM measurements obtained with the scapula stabilized or by visual inspection were significantly less than when measured with the standard technique (P=.001). Intrarater reliability was good or excellent for all 3 methods (intraclass correlation coefficients=.63-.71), was similar for the scapular stabilization and visual inspection techniques, and was superior to that previously reported for similar measurements. In general, interrater reliability was lower than intrarater reliability for all measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the visual inspection and scapular stabilized techniques control for accessory scapulothoracic motion, these techniques may represent more valid measures of glenohumeral motion than the standard technique. Both the visual inspection and scapular stabilized techniques exhibited equally acceptable reliability for clinical use. However, because the visual inspection technique may be applied by a single examiner, we recommend its use to measure shoulder IR ROM in the clinical setting.
Awan
Raza
R
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Smith
Jay
J
Boon
Andrea J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012399:Rotation; D012540:Scapula / Q000502:physiology; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology