Is coracohumeral distance associated with pain-function, and shoulder range of movement, in chronic anterior shoulder pain?

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was twofold: (i) to assess the intrarater reliability of coracohumeral distance; (ii) to investigate the level of association between coracohumeral distance measured by ultrasonography, and pain-disability and shoulder range of movement, in patients suffering from chronic anterior shoulder pain.MethodsAn observational, cross sectional study was carried out. A convenience sample comprised of 87 patients with chronic anterior shoulder pain was assessed from 3 primary care centres. Main outcomes as pain and function were measured through the shoulder pain and disability index. Furthermore, shoulder range of movement-free of pain in shoulder elevation, as well as coracohumeral distance at both 0 and 60 degrees, were collected.ResultsAbsence of any correlation was found between coracohumeral distance and shoulder pain and disability index at both 0 and 60 degrees of shoulder elevation. Furthermore, absence of any correlation was found between coracohumeral distance measurements and active shoulder range of movement -free of pain.ConclusionsThere was poor association between coracohumeral distance and shoulder pain and function, as well as with shoulder range of movement, in patients with chronic anterior shoulder pain. Hence, clinicians should consider, not only increasing this space, but also other possibilities in their therapies, when patients with anterior shoulder pain are treated.Trial registration ACTRN12614000144617. Registered: 1st March 2014.

Less than 9.5-mm coracohumeral distance on axial magnetic resonance imaging scans predicts for subscapularis tear

“…Navarro-Ledesma et al 16 reported poor correlation of a small CHD and shoulder function or pain in asymptomatic individuals. CHD can be influenced by gender, age, and arm position during MRI.…”

“…In multiple studies, the reliability of CHD measurement by fluoroscopy, computed tomography, MRI, and ultrasound was proven. 3 , 7 , 10 , 16 …”

Correlation between acromiohumeral distance and the severity of supraspinatus tendon tear by ultrasound imaging in a Chinese population

“…The intra-observer correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated by making measurements twice on each side of the same shoulders to evaluate the consistency of AHD measured by US, and the average values of the two measurements were used for the final statistical tests between groups. An ICC value less than 0.50 was an indication of "poor" reliability; "moderate" between 0.50 and 0.75, "good" between 0.76 and 0.90; and excellent over 0.90 [17]. One way ANOVA was used to compare the AHD values among the three research groups.…”

“…The ultrasound examiner was blind to all measurements (values were obscured by placing a sticker on the ultrasound screen). A research assistant took the measurements and entered them into a database [17]. Sonographic AHD measurements were taken in millimetres.…”

Association of Both Scapular Upward Rotation and Scapulothoracic Muscle Lengths With Shoulder Pain, Function, and Range of Movement

“…Only 1 study 36 has analyzed the level of association between shoul-der pain and pectoralis minor length in a population with chronic shoulder pain, showing similar results (r = 0.09) to those obtained in the present study (r = 0.08). Moreover, other factors-such as the acromiohumeral distance, 37 the coracohumeral distance, 38 and shoulder-tendon thick-ness 39 have been studied in relation to chronic shoulder pain, also showing small associations.…”