Normal shoulder outcome score values in the young, active adult.
BACKGROUND
Our objective was to determine baseline, normative values for multiple shoulder outcome scores in a young, active population without shoulder symptoms.


METHODS
One hundred ninety-two volunteers completed the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index, Simple Shoulder Test, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score. Their mean age was 28.8 years (range, 17-50 years).


RESULTS
Of the participants, 59 (31%) scored no deficiencies on any of the outcome instruments, whereas 133 (69%) demonstrated some abnormal shoulder score. The mean scores were as follows: Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, 97.7 (SD, 5.2); modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, 98.9 (SD, 3.3); Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index, 82.7 of 2100 (SD, 153.5); Simple Shoulder Test, 11.79 (SD, 0.60); and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, 1.85 (SD, 5.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that the best possible shoulder score in an asymptomatic population may not be equivalent to a perfect score on the outcome scale.
Clarke
Michael G
MG
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA 92134-1112, USA.
Dewing
Christopher B
CB
Schroder
David T
DT
Solomon
Daniel J
DJ
Provencher
Matthew T
MT
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult