Interrater Reliability of the Clinical Examination of Muscular Scapular Stabilisation
Stefan ABT1,2, Katja Rüegg1,3, André Meichtry1 and Hannu Luomajoki1*
1School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
2Sports Medical Center, Grüzefeldstrasse, Winterthur, Switzerland
3Triemli Hospital Physiotherapy, Birmensdorferstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
*Corresponding Author: Hannu Luomajoki, School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Received:
June 27, 2022; Published: July 26, 2022
Abstract
The objective of this study was the assessment of the interrater reliability of four tests of the resting scapula and five tests of muscular stabilisation of the scapula with a total of 65 subjects without using any quantitative measuring devices.
A visual and palpatory examination of the resting scapula was made with regard to observation features such as acromion level in relation to the angulus superior, scapular winging, the shape of the margo medialis and the scapular tilt. The trapezius as a whole, the trapezius ascendens and serratus anterior muscles were tested with manual resistance for their scapular stabilisation capacity. The trapezius descendens was tested for active sufficiency.
The shoulder shrug test with a wKappa coefficient of 1.0 (95% CI: 1.0) on the right, as well as the scapular tilt test with a wKappa coefficient of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.41-0.89) on the left and a wKappa coefficient of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.40-0.87) on the right, were the most reliable tests. The rest of the assessed tests showed poor to average congruence. Based on these results, an examination of the scapula has to be critically evaluated in daily clinical practice.
Keywords: Shoulder; Scapula; Physical Examination; Interrater Reliability
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