title: The reliability of shoulder range of motion measures in competitive swimmers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigate reliability of shoulder internal and external rotation (IR, ER), abduction in internal rotation (ABIR) and combined elevation (CE) range of motion tests in competitive swimmers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within participants, inter- and intra-examiner reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physiotherapy Department, University of Melbourne, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  17 competitive swimmers (aged 12-24 years) who participate in at least 5 weekly swimming sessions and two physiotherapy examiners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of IR, ER, ABIR and CE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good to excellent intra-examiner reliability across tests (ICCs: 0.85-0.96) with standard error of measurement (SEM)and minimal detectable change at 90% confidence interval (MDC90) ranging from 2 to 5, and 5-12°, respectively. Good to excellent inter-examiner reliability for all tests (ICCs: 0.77-0.94) except left IR (ICC: 0.65). Inter-examiner SEM and MDC90 ranged from 2 to 5° and 5-12°, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shoulder range of motion tests were reliable when applied by the same examiner. Inter-examiner reliability was acceptable for all tests except IR, which was affected by inconsistent manual scapula stabilisation between examiners.
authors.affiliation: Physio4athletes, 301/370 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, 3004, Australia. Electronic address: helen@physio4athletes.com.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health, Department of Rehabilitation, Nutrition and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Bundoora, Australia. Electronic address: t.pizzari@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pizzari
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health, Department of Rehabilitation, Nutrition and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Bundoora, Australia. Electronic address: h.wajswelner@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wajswelner
authors.affiliation: Swimming Australia, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: peter.blanch@swimming.org.au.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.affiliation: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: laura.schwab@acu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, 161 Barry St, Parkville, Vic, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: k.bennell@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bennell
authors.affiliation: Pre-Hospital, Emergency and Trauma Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia. Electronic address: Belinda.Gabbe@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gabbe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012399:Rotation; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Range of motion; Reliability; Shoulder; Swimming