Background: Altered shoulder joint position sense (JPS) following shoulder injury has been demonstrated in the literature and may increase the risk of injury. A JPS assessment targeting the shoulder will provide the clinician with an objective marker. The present study aimed to develop an assessment method of JPS using an active relocation test (ART). Methods: In total, 40 healthy participants were recruited. A laser-pointer attached to the index finger during an ART allowed measurement (mm) of JPS by measuring the distance between the target and relocated position. Participants were blindfolded and stood an arm's length (approximately 1 m) away from the wall. Whilst keeping the wrist in neutral and elbow extended, the participant actively moved to the target position (90 glenohumeral flexion), held for 5 seconds, returned their arm to their side and actively returned to the target position. A mean was calculated from three trials to provide an ART score. Results: The mean (SD) dominant and nondominant ART score was 89.2 (SD 35.5) mm (95% confidence interval ¼ 77.87 mm to 100.5 mm) and 94.1 (34.5) mm (95% confidence interval ¼ 83.1 mm to 105.2 mm), respectively. Arm dominance did not significantly affect ART scores. Conclusions: No significant difference was demonstrated between the dominant and nondominant arm using an ART assessing JPS acuity. Further studies are needed to establish inter-rater and intra-rater reliability.

Introduction: Research indicates Sports-Related Concussion (SRC) impairs Vestibular-Ocular-Motor (VOM) function. The aim was to explore if VOM impairment correlates with longer Return To Play (RTP), symptom burden, neurocognitive performance and academic capability. Participants; 40 (61.4% male) Loughborough University, UK, rugby union student-athletes sustained 42 SRC's. Methods: Student-athletes completed an assessment battery during pre-season (baseline), 2, 4, 8 and 14 days post SRC and prior to RTP and were managed according to the rugby Football Union' community pathway. Outcome measures; Vestibular Ocular-Motor Screening (VOMS), Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT), Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), Perceived Academic Impairment Tool (PAIT) questionnaire and percentage of academic activities specifically missed due to SRC.Results: VOMS scores were significantly (p<0.005) greater than baseline at all time points except RTP. Prescence of VOM dysfunction at 14 days post SRC significantly correlated with a longer RTP, greater symptom burden and increased odds ratio at 2, 4 and 8 days and academic time loss at 2, 4 and 8 days post-SRC.Conclusion: VOM impairment is associated with an increased symptom burden and impaired academic capability, and a longer time to RTP when present at 14 days post-SRC.

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