How reliably do rheumatologists measure shoulder movement?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Medical Measurement

Background:

• Accurate measurement of shoulder movements is crucial for diagnosing and managing shoulder conditions.
• Standardized protocols aim to improve the consistency of clinical assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the intrarater and interrater reliability of a standardized protocol for measuring shoulder movements using a gravity inclinometer among rheumatologists.

Main Methods:

• Six rheumatologists assessed eight shoulder movements in six patients using a standardized protocol and gravity inclinometer.
• Assessments were repeated, and data analyzed using analysis of variance to calculate intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).

Main Results:

• Intrarater and interrater reliability varied significantly across different shoulder movements.
• Hand-behind-back and total shoulder flexion showed the highest ICC scores for both intrarater and interrater reliability.
• Glenohumeral abduction and certain rotation movements demonstrated low reliability.

Conclusions:

• A standardized protocol for measuring shoulder movements with a gravity inclinometer yielded variable reliability among rheumatologists.
• Only hand-behind-back and total shoulder flexion measurements demonstrated acceptable reliability.