Tests for assessing shoulder movements: reliability and influence of the number of repetitions

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating intrarater and interrater reliability of four clinical assessment tests of movements of the shoulder articular complex, also investigating the influence of the number of repetitions on tests reliability. Thirty-two healthy individuals (aged 21.06±4.01) were assessed twice, one week apart. Two evaluators applied four tests: anterior translation of the humeral head, scapular winging, scapular adduction and
excessive scapular elevation, recording responses after five repetitions
(procedure A) and after consistency check (procedure B). Kappa coefficient, Fisher exact and Z tests were used for data analysis; significance level was set at 0.05. Kappa coefficients obtained for intrarater and interrater agreement varied from 0.41 to 0.80, considered moderate to substantial. No significant difference was found between Kappa coefficients for procedures A and B (p p≥0,083). Kappa coefficients for the agreement between the responses obtained in procedures A and B varied from 0.93 to 0.96, which are considered excellent. Results thus show that the tests may be used in clinical practice for the assessment of patients' evolution and to exchange information between raters. Increase in the number of repetitions did not alter tests reliability neither responses.