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Background The Unilateral Seated Shot-Put Test (USSPT) consists of pushing an overweight ball as far as possible to assess upper extremity power unilaterally and bilateral symmetry. Literature however reports various body positions and upper limb pushing patterns to perform USSPT, demanding to provide additional guideline to achieve overweight ball push. This study therefore aimed at assessing the reliability and agreement of USSPT outcome measures when pushing an overweight ball in a horizontal direction. Methods Twenty-seven healthy male athletes performed two sessions, one week apart, of three unilateral pushes per upper limb using a 3-kg medicine ball, for which the distances were measured. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimum detectable change at a 95 % confidence level (MDC95 %) and coefficient of variation (CV) were assessed for the pushing distances based on one, two or three trials per side to produce two outcome measures: the pushing distance per limb and USSPT Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) when dividing pushing distance of the dominant side by that of the non-dominant side. Results The most reliable pushing distance per limb was obtained when averaging three pushing distances, normalized by body mass with the exponent 0.35. The mean USSPT LSI was 1.09 ± 0.10 for the first session and 1.08 ± 0.10 for the second session, highlighting good reliability and agreement (ICC = 0.82; SEM = 0.045; MDC95 % = 0.124; CV = 5.02 %). Conclusions When the overweight ball is pushed in a horizontal direction, averaging the distances of three trials for both the dominant and non-dominant limbs is advised to provide the most reliable USSPT distance per limb and USSPT LSI.

Background: The time elapsed since surgery is the primary criterion for allowing athletes to return to sport after shoulder stabilization surgery using the Latarjet procedure. The objective assessment of shoulder functional status through the return-to-sport continuum demands a scoring instrument that includes psychological and physical dimensions. This study aimed to statistically validate the Shoulder-SanTy Athletic Return To Sport (S-STARTS) score in patients who have undergone primary shoulder stabilization surgery. Hypothesis: The S-STARTS score fulfils the criteria for statistical validation for assessing return-to-sport readiness after shoulder stabilization surgery. Study Design: Diagnostic study. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: Fifty patients and 50 controls completed the Shoulder Instability-Return to Sport after Injury questionnaire and performed 4 physical performance tests, from which 8 outcome measures were extracted to provide a composite score, named S-STARTS, according to a scoring procedure. The statistical validation of the S-STARTS score was based on construct validity, discriminant validity, sensitivity to change, internal consistency, reliability, agreement, and feasibility. Results: The 8 components of the S-STARTS score provided additional information (0.01 ≤ | r| ≤ 0.59). The S-STARTS score exhibited good reliability (intraclass coefficient of correlation [3,k] = 0.74), no ceiling or floor effects, and high discrimination and sensitivity to change. The S-STARTS score was significantly lower in patients than in controls (13.5 ± 3.8 points vs 16.1 ± 2.7 points, respectively; P < 0.001). A significant increase was reported between 4.5 and 6.5 months postoperatively (12.8 ± 2.3 points vs 17.2 ± 2.4 points, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The S-STARTS score meets statistical validation criteria for the assessment of shoulder functional status after shoulder stabilization surgery using the Latarjet procedure. Clinical Relevance: Using an S-STARTS score–based assessment to monitor an athlete’s progression through the return-to-sport continuum may help clinicians and strength and conditioning coaches in return-to-sport decision-making.