title: Reliability of measuring pectoralis minor muscle resting length in subjects with and without signs of shoulder impingement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pectoralis minor adaptive shortening may change scapula resting position and scapular kinematics during arm elevation. A reliable and clinically feasible method for measuring pectoralis minor length will be useful for clinical decision making when evaluating and treating individuals with shoulder pain and dysfunction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate intrarater, interrater, and between-day reliability of a pectoralis minor (PM) muscle length measurement in subjects with and without signs of shoulder impingement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 100 individuals (50 asymptomatic and 50 symptomatic) participated in this study. Intra- and interrater reliability of the measurement was estimated in 50 individuals (25 asymptomatic and 25 symptomatic), and between-day reliability of the measurement repeated over an interval of 7 days was estimated in an independent sample of 50 additional participants. Pectoralis minor length was measured using a flexible tape measure with subjects standing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC3,k) for intrarater and interrater reliability ranged from 0.86-0.97 and 0.95 for between-day reliability in both groups. Standard error of measurements (SEM) ranged from 0.30-0.42 cm, 0.70-0.84 cm, and 0.40-0.41 cm for intrarater, interrater, and between-day reliability, respectively, across the sample. The minimal detectable change (MDC) for between-day measurements ranged from 1.13-1.14 cm for both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In asymptomatic individuals and in those with signs of shoulder impingement, a single rater or pair of raters can measure pectoralis minor muscle length using a tape measure with very good reliability. This measurement can also be reliably used by the same rater over a seven day interval.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-gradução em Fisioterapia, Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba, Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba, Piracicaba SP , Brazil.
authors.forename: Dayana P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, The Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, OH, USA, Ohio State University, The Ohio State University, Department of Physical Therapy, Columbus OH , USA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Borstad
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Fisioterapia, São Carlos SP , Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Fisioterapia, São Carlos SP , Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Camargo
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology*; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*