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· DOS Abstracts
Inter-tester reliability of four tests measuring
muscle strength in the shoulder using a handheld
dynamometer
Mikkel Bek Clausen, Peter Andreas Rothe, Jens Langermann, Per Hölmich,
Kristian Thorborg
School of Physiotherapy, Institute of Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of
Health and Technology, Metropolitan University; Arthroscopic Centre Amager,
SORC-C, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre, Denmark
Background:
Weakness in isometric shoulder protraction (PT), horizontal ex-
tension (HE), abduction (ABD) and external rotation (ER) muscle strength is
reported in patients with shoulder pathology, why objective testing is relevant
in both research and clinical settings. The inter-tester reliability for tests of ABD
and ER using a handheld dynamometer is found to be acceptable to excellent,
though most of the described tests are performed with the shoulder in positions
not suitable for patients with severe problems. For test of PT and HE the inter-
tester reliability has not previously been investigated and no suitable testing
protocols for these tests is found in the literature.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
The aim of this study was investigate the inter-
tester reliability for the standardized tests of strength in shoulder PT, HE, ABD
and ER, performed in positions most suitable for patients with severe shoulder
problems.
Materials and Methods:
Twenty-five asymptomatic adults underwent stan-
dardized testing of isometric muscle strength in PT, HE, ABD and ER measured
by handheld dynamometer, using the best of two trails as the test result. Order
of tests and order of tester were randomized for all participants. Relative reli-
ability were assessed for all tests using ICC2,1 two-way mixed model - absolute
agreement, thereby taking any bias between testers into account.
Findings / Results:
The inter-tester reliability were excellent for tests of
PT (ICC 0.92 95%CI:0.80-0.97), ABD (ICC 0.93 95%CI:0.84-0.97) and ER
(ICC 0.91 95%CI:0.81-0.96), but only acceptable for test of HE (ICC 0.79
95%CI:0.45-0.91).
Conclusions:
The tests of strength in shoulder PT, ABD and ER were found suf-
ficiently reliable to be implemented in both scientific and clinical settings, while
the test of strength in shoulder HE should mainly be used in scientific settings
with large samples.
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