Article
A new method of shoulder ROM assessment for prone dominant athletes: A reliability and validity study
Physiotherapy: Theory and Practice
(2015)
Abstract
Background: As swimming and surfing are prone dominant sports, it would be more sport
specific to assess shoulder active range of motion in this position. Objectives: To determine the
reliability of the inclinometer and HALO for assessing shoulder active range of motion in
supine and prone and the concurrent validity of the HALO. Concurrent validity is based on the
comparison of the HALO and inclinometer. To determine if active range of motion (AROM)
differences exists between prone and supine when assessing shoulder internal (IR) and external
rotation (ER). Design: The design included clinical measurement, reliability and validity.
Methods: Thirty shoulders (mean age¼26.8 years) without pathology were evaluated. Measurements
were taken in supine and prone with both an inclinometer and HALO device.
Results: Active ER ROM in prone was significantly higher than in supine when using both devices. Intra-rater
reliability (within and between session) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values ranged
between 0.82–0.99 for both devices in supine and prone. An ICC test revealed a significant
(p50.01) correlation for both devices in IR and ER movements (ICC3,1¼0.87 and ICC3,1¼0.72),
respectively.
Conclusion: This study has shown prone assessment of active ER and IR ROM to be
a reliable and appropriate method for prone dominant athletes (swimmers and surfers). In this
study greater ER ROM was achieved in prone compared to supine. This finding highlights
the importance of standardizing the test position for initial and follow up assessments.
Furthermore the HALO and inclinometer have been shown to be reliable tools that show
good concurrent validity.
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring October 3, 2015
DOI
10.3109/09593985.2015.1027070
Citation Information
James Furness, Allan Abbott, Wayne Hing and Mike Climstein. "A new method of shoulder ROM assessment for prone dominant athletes: A reliability and validity study" Physiotherapy: Theory and Practice Vol. September Iss. 11 (2015) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael_climstein/81/