Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 9 , Pages 1795-1802, September 2008

Intraobserver Reliability of Angular and Linear Measurements of Scapular Position in Subjects With and Without Symptoms

  • Jeremy S. Lewis, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Therapy Department, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
    • Physiotherapy Department, St George's Hospital, London, UK
    • University of London, London, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Jeremy S. Lewis, PhD, Therapy Department, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Rd, London, SW10 9NH UK
    • ,
  • Rachel E. Valentine, BSc

      Affiliations

    • Therapy Department, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK

Abstract 

Lewis JS, Valentine RE. Intraobserver reliability of angular and linear measurements of scapular position in subjects with and without symptoms.

Objective

To assess intraobserver reliability of angular and linear clinical measurements of scapular position.

Design

Test-retest analyses.

Setting

Outpatient department in National Health Service teaching hospital in the United Kingdom.

Participants

Subjects (n=45) without symptoms (21 men, 24 women; age range, 23–56y) and 45 subjects (22 men, 23 women; age range, 19–84y) with shoulder symptoms (defined as pain in the C5-6 dermatome reproduced by shoulder movement and not reproduced with cervical movement).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) models 2,1 and 2,3, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and SE of measurements for 68% confidence and 2 SEs of measurement (for the 95% CI) for the bilateral angular measurements of scapular rotation and tilt, and the bilateral linear measurements of lateral scapular displacement (protraction) and vertical displacement (elevation).

Results

For subjects without symptoms, ICC2,3 results ranged from .75 to .98. The 2 SE results for the angular movements ranged from 1.8° to 2.4° and from 0.4 to 1.0cm for the direct linear measurements. Subjects with symptoms: ICC2,3 results ranged from .61 to .98. The 2 SE results for the angular movements ranged from 1.4° to 2° and from 0.6 to 1cm for the direct linear measurements.

Conclusions

Repeated-measure (ICC2,3) results were more reliable than single-measure (ICC2,1) results. Very good to excellent intraobserver reliability was demonstrated for the angular and linear measurements of interest in both shoulders of subjects with and without symptoms. The 2 SE results provide guidance about the error associated with the individual measurements and will assist the clinician determining whether a change in the static position of the scapula has occurred as a result of intervention or over time. (National Research Register identifier N0060148286.)

Key Words: Posture, Rehabilitation, Scapula, Shoulder

List of Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval, ICC, intraclass correlation coefficient

 

 Supported by the Westminster Medical School Research Trust and the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare National Health Service Trust Charity.

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(08)00403-6

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2008.01.028

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 9 , Pages 1795-1802, September 2008

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