No abstract

This study investigated the reliability and concurrent validity of active shoulder elevation in the scapular plane (scaption) using a digital inclinometer and goniometer. Two investigators used a goniometer and digital inclinometer to measure scaption on 30 asymptomatic participants in a blinded repeated measures design. Good reliability was present with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intrarater reliability of goniometry = 0.87, intrarater digital inclinometry = 0.88, interrater goniometry = 0.92, and interrater digital inclinometry = 0.89. The minimal detectable change (MDC95) for the interrater analysis indicated that a change equal to or greater than 8 degrees for goniometry and 9 degrees for inclinometry is required to be 95% certain that the change is not due to intertrial variability or measurement error. The concurrent validity between goniometry and digital inclinometry was excellent with an ICC value of 0.94 for both raters. The 95% limits of agreement suggest that the difference between these two measurement instruments can be expected to vary by up to ±11 degrees. The results support the interchangeable use of goniometry and digital inclinometer for measuring scaption. Clinicians and researchers should consider the MDC values presented when interpreting change during subsequent measurement sessions.

Both the inclinometer and iPhone® application possess good interrater reliability, intrarater reliability and concurrent validity for measuring standing lumbar lordosis. This investigation provides preliminary evidence to suggest that smart phone applications may offer clinical utility comparable to inclinometry for quantifying standing lumbar lordosis. Clinicians should recognize potential individual differences when using these devices interchangeably.

Although hand-held dynamometry is considered an objective method of measuring strength, the reliability of the procedure can be compromised by inadequate tester strength and insufficient stabilization of the dynamometer and subject. The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of a hand-held dynamometer with the use of a portable stabilization device while testing the shoulder internal and external rotator musculature. The isometric strength of the shoulder rotator musculature was tested twice in 30 asymptomatic adult volunteers (15 male and 15 female) between 18 and 63 years of age by using an intrasession design. Consistency of the testing protocol was maintained through the use of an arm stabilization apparatus, which fixed the arm in 30 degrees of the scapular plane and a portable dynamometer stabilization device. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC's) were high, ranging from ICC (3,1) = 0.971-0.972 for the test-retest trials of internal and external rotation. There was no significant difference between sessions one and two for maximum internal rotation (p = 0.431) and maximum external rotation strength (p = 0.780). The results indicate that the testing protocol with stabilization device is a reliable method for measuring strength of the internal and external rotator shoulder musculature.