Reliability and Validity of Ultrasonographic Measurements of Acromion-Greater Tuberosity Distance in Poststroke Hemiplegia

Ultrasonographic measurement of the acromiohumeral distance in spinal cord injury: Reliability and effects of shoulder positioning

“…7 The acromiohumeral distance (AHD) is a twodimensional linear measurement of the subacromial space and a widely recognized marker for rotator cuff disease. 8 AHD measurement has been well established in previous studies with able-bodied individuals with healthy shoulders, [9][10][11] athletes, [12][13][14][15] patients with SIS, 16,17 patients with poststroke hemiplegia, 11 individuals with different stages of rotator cuff degeneration, 18 and patients with rotator cuff tear. 8 Ultrasonography has increasingly been used as an imaging modality for measuring the AHD because it is portable, radiation-free, and non-invasive.…”

“…17 Discriminant validity of the AHD between affected and unaffected shoulders was determined in a hemiplegic population. 11 However, no studies have yet examined AHD and the reliability of ultrasonographic measurement among wheelchair users (MWUs). The focus of this study could be important because ultrasound may be useful for quantitatively evaluating the AHD in a MWU population to gain insight into mechanisms of rotator cuff disease and SIS.…”

Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of ultrasonographic measurements of acromion-greater tuberosity distance in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia

“…Another study compared ultrasound with the fingerbreadth palpation method and it reports good agreement between these two methods highlighting the potential clinical utility of the ultrasound method. 18 Although there were differences in the measurement procedure, high reliability coefficients (ICC =0.979 to 0.98) reported from these studies 16,17 suggest that ultrasonographic measurements are reliable when measured by the same rater.…”

“…More recently, Kumar et al 17 recruited 26 patients with stroke, and, using a new standardized position with the forearm supported, found that bedside assessment of acromion-greater tuberosity (AGT) distance, undertaken by a physiotherapist trained in shoulder ultrasound, demonstrates good intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.98) and discriminant validity. Another study compared ultrasound with the fingerbreadth palpation method and it reports good agreement between these two methods highlighting the potential clinical utility of the ultrasound method.…”

“…6,7,13 Radiographs are considered to be objective, and have high reliability and validity, More recently, diagnostic ultrasound has also been used for the assessment of GHS in people with post-stroke hemiplegia by measuring the acromion-greater tuberosity (AGT) distance between the lateral border of the acromion and the apex of the greater tuberosity of the humerus. 16,17 Using a large, static ultrasound machine Park et al 16 report high intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.979) of ultrasound measurements of GHS undertaken with patients seated in the upright sitting position with arms dependent in a neutral position, without the arm support.…”