Measurement of shoulder joint kinaesthesia

SUMMARY. Loss of kinaesthesia has been identified as a factor in recurrent or persistent problems following glenohumeral dislocation. However, accurate measurement of shoulder kinaesthesia remains a difficult task in the clinical setting. This study investigated the use of the Kincom dynamometer for measuring the ability of a subject to reproduce a shoulder joint angle with a passive and active test. The tests were applied to two subject groups, (normal and patient) and the results were compared with those of a standard clinical test. The results of the Kincom tests demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the normal and patient groups (F((1,140)) = 53.0; P < 0.001). The difference between the means for the two groups was 1.2 degrees which indicates the precision of shoulder kinaesthetic sense. All subjects were more accurate with the active test compared to the passive test (F((1,140)) = 36.5; P < 0.001). Reliability of the Kincom tests was evaluated over 3 days and a significant difference was found between day one and day three for both groups (F((2,140)) = 3.5; P < 0.05) suggesting a learning effect had occurred. There was no significant difference between the Kincom active test and the clinical test (F((1,28)) = 1.86; P = 0.18); however, the difference between the Kincom passive test and the clinical test was significant (F((1,28)) = 10.74; P < 0.01). The clinical test did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the two subject groups (t(28 = 1); P = 0.05). Copyright 1996 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.