• Tozzo MC
• Ansanello W
• Martins J
• Zatiti SCA
• de Oliveira AS

• Affiliation / Hospital Especializado de Ribeirão Preto
• Affiliation / University of São Paulo. Ribeirão Preto Medical School
• Affiliation / University of São Paulo. Ribeirão Preto Medical School. Department of Health Sciences
• Affiliation(G) / Brazil / São Paulo / Ribeirão Preto
• Diagnostic Equipment
• Range of Motion, Articular
• Reproducibility of Results
• Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / physiopathology

Objective: This study aimed to determine the intra- and interrater reliability of active and passive range of motion in the shoulders of individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome using a digital inclinometer.

Methods: The raters evaluated active and passive range of motion in the shoulder of 50 individuals with unilateral subacromial impingement syndrome in movements including flexion, abduction, extension, external rotation in a neutral position, external rotation with the arm at 90° of abduction, and internal rotation with the arm at 90° of abduction. The tests were performed by 2 examiners on the same day, with a 10-minute interval, and were repeated by 1 examiner after a 2- to 4-day interval. Reliability was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,3).

Results: There was moderate to excellent interrater (ICC2,3 = 0.50-0.95) and intrarater (ICC2,3 = 0.74-0.94) reliability. In the interrater analysis, the standard error of measurement (SEM) ranged from 4.1° to 10°, the percentage SEM (%SEM) ranged from 2% to 17%, and the minimum detectable change ranged from 9.5° to 23.4°. In the intrarater analysis, the SEM ranged from 4° to 9.2°, %SEM ranged from 3% to 14%, and the minimum detectable change ranged from 9.3° to 21.4°.

Conclusion: The digital inclinometer showed moderate to excellent reliability for measuring active and passive range of motion in shoulders with unilateral subacromial impingement syndrome.

Author keywords: Reproducibility of Results; Upper Extremity; Range of Motion

Author affiliations: MCT: Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; WA, JM, ASdO: Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; SCAZ: Hospital Especializado de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

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