title: Maximality of shoulder external rotation effort in patients presenting with work related injury: the clinical applicability of the DEC parameter.
abstract: The aim of the present study is to examine the applicability of the isokinetic DEC parameter for identifying submaximal effort in workers with potential weakness of the shoulder external rotators. A previous study indicated that the DEC was a powerful identifier of submaximal effort of shoulder external rotation in normal volunteers. Its applicability in shoulder injury patients is of specific interest. Thus, a retrospective study of 74 (33 female and 41 male) patients who claimed compensation for work-related shoulder injury was designed. 52 patients had their injured side DEC values within the normal range and were thus labeled as maximal performers. Ten patients had higher than cutoff DEC values, indicating submaximal effort whereas 12 patients had exceedingly low DEC values. Gender comparison showed a significantly different proportion of maximal performers. Strength deficits registered in patients demonstrating maximal performance correlated with the final outcome. The findings support the application of the DEC for determination of the extent of weakness of shoulder external rotators in male patients. In terms of shoulder external rotators status in male worker injury, the results support the application of isokinetic tests both in the clinical and medicolegal sense. However, the gender discrepancy warrants further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Egarsat-SUMA, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. quim.chaler@gmail.com
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaler
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unyó
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garreta
authors.forename: Casimiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Javierre
authors.forename: Zeevi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dvir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult