Reliability of five methods for assessing shoulder range of motion

Abstract

In symptomatic subjects, the reliability of tests for shoulder joint range of motion has yet to be determined. For this reason, inter-rater and intra-rater agreement trials were undertaken to ascertain the reliability of visual estimation, goniometry, still photography, "stand and reach" and hand behind back reach for six different shoulder movements. Intra-class correlation coefficients (Rho) were derived by using a random effects model. For flexion, abduction and external rotation fair to good reliability was demonstrated for both trials using visual estimation (Inter-rater Rho = 0.57-0.70; Intra-rater Rho = 0.59-0.67), goniometry (Inter-rater Rho = 0.64-0.69; Intra-rater Rho = 0.53-0.65) and still photography (Inter-rater Rho = 0.62-0.73; Intra-rater Rho = 0.56-0.61). The tests had standard errors of measurement of between 14 and 25 degrees (inter-rater trial) and 11 and 23 degrees (intra-rater trial).

Effect of Motor Control and Strengthening Exercises on Pain, Function, Strength and the Range of Motion of Patients with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

“…However, Senbursa et al (2007) reported that a group following a manual therapy with exercise program and an exercise only program resulted in decreases in pain and improvement of function 1) , but as statistically significant improvements were found only in the manual therapy with exercise program group, as was noted in the present study. These results suggest that strengthening exercise with intervention aiming to achieve proper motion is more useful for increasing joint mobility, decreasing pain and improving the functional ability than strengthening exercise alone 1,23) . Isokinetic equipment can accurately measure the muscle strength that occurs at constant angular velocity and a range of motion, and the peak torque is a very important index for estimating the maximum motor ability of muscles 27) .…”

“…A 5-min rest period was provided between each test 22) . The shoulder range of motion was assessed using a goniometer during active shoulder movement without pain 23,24) . The range of motion included flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation and internal rotation of the shoulder joint.…”

Shoulder External Rotator Eccentric Training Versus General Shoulder Exercise for Subacromial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Good reliability (ICC .76-.91) of goniometry for shoulder AROM has been established in subjects with shoulder pain. 38 The UQYBT was used to determine closed chain performance as described by Gorman et al 39 with high reliability (ICC .90). The test was performed with the participant in the push-up position.…”

Goniometria dos membros torácicos e pélvicos de ovinos em duas faixas etárias

“…Um outro aspecto importante da aferição goniométrica é a conϐiabilidade da medida intra-avaliador, que representa a habilidade de um único avaliador obter resultados consistentes em mensurações sucessivas, e a inter-avaliador, que representa a concordância entre medidas da mesma articulação por diferentes avaliadores (Rothstein et al 1983, Gajdosik & Bohannon 1987, Norkin & White 1997, Hayes et al 2001, Araújo et al 2009. No presente estudo a mensurações com menor conϐiabilidade foram as do avaliador 2, em especial no carpo e cotovelo, provavelmente por ser o avaliador menos experiente.…”