title: Clinical methods to quantify trunk mobility in an elite male surfing population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thoracic mobility in the sagittal and horizontal planes are key requirements in the sport of surfing; however to date the normal values of these movements have not yet been quantified in a surfing population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a reliable method to quantify thoracic mobility in the sagittal plane; to assess the reliability of an existing thoracic rotation method, and quantify thoracic mobility in an elite male surfing population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical Measurement, reliability and comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 subjects were used to determine the reliability component. 15 elite surfers were used as part of a comparative analysis with age and gender matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraclass correlation coefficient values ranged between 0.95-0.99 (95% CI; 0.89-0.99) for both thoracic methods. The elite surfing group had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater rotation than the comparative group (mean rotation 63.57° versus 40.80°, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has illustrated reliable methods to assess the thoracic spine in the sagittal plane and thoracic rotation. It has also quantified ROM in a surfing cohort; identifying thoracic rotation as a key movement. This information may provide clinicians, coaches and athletic trainers with imperative information regarding the importance of maintaining adequate thoracic rotation.
authors.affiliation: Water Based Research Unit, Bond Institute of Health & Sport, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: jfurness@bond.edu.au.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furness
authors.affiliation: Water Based Research Unit, Bond Institute of Health & Sport, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Exercise Health & Performance Faculty Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: mclimste@bond.edu.au.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Climstein
authors.affiliation: Centre for Exercise and Sport Science Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia; Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre, Casuarina Beach, Australia. Electronic address: jeremy@surfingaustralia.com.
authors.forename: Jeremy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.affiliation: Water Based Research Unit, Bond Institute of Health & Sport, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden. Electronic address: aabbott@bond.edu.au.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.affiliation: Water Based Research Unit, Bond Institute of Health & Sport, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: whing@bond.edu.au.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012399:Rotation; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Range of motion; Rotation; Surfing; Thoracic