Reliability and Diagnostic Accuracy of 5 Physical Examination Tests and Combination of Tests for Subacromial Impingement
Abstract
Michener LA, Walsworth MK, Doukas WC, Murphy KP. Reliability and diagnostic accuracy of 5 physical examination tests and combination of tests for subacromial impingement.
Objective
To investigate the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of individual tests and combination of tests for subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS).
Design
A prospective, blinded study design.
Setting
Orthopedic surgeon shoulder clinic.
Participants
Patients with shoulder pain (n=55, mean age=40.6y).
Interventions
Patients were evaluated with 5 physical examination tests for SAIS: Neer, Hawkins-Kennedy, painful arc, empty can (Jobe), and external rotation resistance tests. Surgical diagnosis was the reference standard.
Main Outcome Measures
Diagnostic accuracy calculated with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (+LR), and negative likelihood ratio (−LR). A forward stepwise binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the best test combination for SAIS. An ROC curve analysis was also used to determine the cut point of the number of tests discriminating between the presence and absence of SAIS. Kappa coefficients and percent agreement assessed interrater reliability.
Results
The ROC analyses revealed a significant area under the curve (AUC) (AUC=.67–.72, P<.05) for all tests, except for the Hawkins-Kennedy. The tests with a +LR greater than or equal to 2.0 were the painful arc (+LR=2.25; 95% CI, 1.33–3.81), empty can (+LR=3.90; 95% CI, 1.5–10.12), and the external rotation resistance tests (+LR=4.39; 95% CI, 1.74–11.07). Tests with −LR less than or equal to 0.50 were the painful arc (−LR=.38; 95% CI, .16–.90), external rotation resistance (−LR=.50; 95% CI, .28–.89), and Neer tests (−LR=.35; 95% CI, .12–.97). The regression analysis had no specific test combinations for confirming or ruling out SAIS. The ROC analysis was significant (AUC=.79, P=.001), with a cut point of 3 positive tests out of 5 tests. Reliability was moderate to substantial agreement (κ=.45–.67) for the painful arc, empty can, and external rotation resistance tests and fair strength of agreement (κ=.39–.40) for the Neer and Hawkins-Kennedy tests.
Conclusions
The single tests of painful arc, external rotation resistance, and Neer are useful screening tests to rule out SAIS. The single tests of painful arc, external rotation resistance, and empty can are helpful to confirm SAIS. The reliability of all tests was acceptable for clinical use. Based on reliability and diagnostic accuracy, the single tests of the painful arc, external rotation resistance, and empty can have the best overall clinical utility. The cut point of 3 or more positive of 5 tests can confirm the diagnosis of SAIS, while less than 3 positive of 5 rules out SAIS.
eUniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Correspondence to Lori A. Michener, PhD, PT, ATC, Department of Physical Therapy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus, PO Box 980224, Richmond, VA 23298
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.
ABSTRACT