Shoulder dysfunction assessment: self-report and impaired scapular movements.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Shoulder dysfunction is common in various patient populations. This investigation was performed to assess shoulder dysfunction with self-report and performance-based functional measures. SUBJECTS: Fifty men (25 with shoulder dysfunction and 25 without shoulder dysfunction) participated in this study. METHODS: Self-report functional disabilities were assessed with the Flexilevel Scale of Shoulder Function (FLEX-SF), and electromagnetic tracking sensors were used to monitor 3-dimensional scapular movements during 4 functional tasks. RESULTS: Relative to the control group, the group with shoulder dysfunction showed significant alterations in scapular movements (averages of 6.9 degrees less posterior tipping, 5.7 degrees less upward rotation, and 2.3 cm more elevation). Scapular kinematics correlated significantly (r) with the Self-report FLEX-SF measure during functional tasks (posterior tipping = .454 to .712, upward rotation = .296 and .317, and elevation = -.310). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Functional disabilities were identified with self-report and performance-based functional measures. The inadequate scapular posterior tipping and scapular upward rotation as well as the excessive elevation may have implications in planning intervention strategies for people with shoulder dysfunction.

Altered patterns of muscle activation during performance of four functional tasks in patients with shoulder disorders: interpretation from voluntary response index.

Altered motor control of the shoulder muscles during performance of a specific motor task in patients with shoulder disorders (SDs) has been an interesting subject to researchers. This study compared shoulder muscle activation patterns by surface electromyography (sEMG), including the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) muscles, during four functional tasks in 25 patients with SDs and controls. A voluntary response index (VRI) was calculated, including magnitude and similarity index (SI), to quantify sEMG patterns during four functional tasks. Responsiveness and clinically meaningful levels of discrimination between patients and control for EMG magnitude and SI were determined. An altered pattern of motor control during four functional tasks was evident in the patients, in which greater EMG amplitude and abnormal EMG patterns were found. For SI among four functional tasks, normal subjects ranged from 0.80 to 1.00 while patients ranged from 0.70 to 0.99. High probabilities (97%) of discrimination between patients and normal subjects were found by SI method during an overhead height task (patients: 0.85-0.96, normal subjects: 0.95-1.00). Our results also suggest that an individual can be estimated to be abnormal when lower SI values are observed during the four functional tasks.

Functional activity characteristics of individuals with shoulder dysfunctions.

Shoulder-related dysfunction affects individuals' ability to function independently and thus decreases quality of life. Functional task assessment is a key concern for a clinician in diagnostic assessment, outcome measurement, and planning of treatment programs. The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of the FASTRAK 3-dimensional (3-D) motion analysis and surface electromyography (sEMG) systems to analyze 3-D shoulder complex movements during functional tasks and compare motion patterns between subjects with and without shoulder dysfunctions (SDs).For the test, sEMG and 3-D motion analysis systems were used to characterize the functional tasks. Twenty-five asymptomatic male subjects and 21 male subjects with right shoulder disorders performed four functional tasks which involved arm reaching and raising activities with their dominant arms. Reliability was estimated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Motion pattern was compared between two groups using mixed analysis of variances (ANOVAs). Shoulder complex kinematics and associated muscular activities during functional tasks were reliably quantified (ICC=0.83-0.99) from the means of three trials. Relative to the group without SDs, the group with SDs showed significant alteration in shoulder complex kinematics (3 degrees -40 degrees ) and associated muscular activities (3-10% maximum). Scapular tipping, scapular elevation, upper trapezius muscle function, and serratus anterior muscle function may have implications in the rehabilitation of patients with SDs.

Functional activities characteristics of shoulder complex movements: Exploration with a 3-D electromagnetic measurement system.

The high prevalence of shoulder-related dysfunction has focused increased attention on functional activity assessment. This study (1) tested the reliability of three-dimensional shoulder complex movements during four functional tasks representing different levels of task difficulty, (2) characterized the four functional tasks, and (3) examined the relationships between age and shoulder movements. Twenty-five asymptomatic subjects, all veterans aged 30-82, performed the four functional tasks. Good within-session reliability was found (movement pattern: similarity index = 0.81 to 0.97, peak values: intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.88 to 0.99). The raising arm to overhead height task (hard task) placed the greatest demand on scapular motions and humeral elevation (p < 0.005). During the functional tasks, significant correlations existed between age and scapular tipping, humeral elevation, and scapular upward rotation (r = -0.62 to 0.50, p < 0.05). Correlation results indicated that elderly subjects have a greater potential for serratus anterior muscle weakness and shoulder capsule tightness.

Effectiveness of physical therapy for patients with neck pain: an individualized approach using a clinical decision-making algorithm.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an individualized physical therapy intervention in treating neck pain based on a clinical reasoning algorithm. Treatment effectiveness was examined by assessing changes in impairment, physical performance, and disability in response to intervention. DESIGN: One treatment group of 30 patients with neck pain completed physical therapy treatment. The control group of convenience was formed by a cohort group of 27 subjects who also had neck pain but did not receive treatment for various reasons. There were no significant differences between groups in demographic data and the initial test scores of the outcome measures. A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent, pretest-posttest control group design was used. A physical therapist rendered an eclectic intervention to the treatment group based on a clinical decision-making algorithm. Treatment outcome measures included the following five dependent variables: cervical range of motion, numeric pain rating, timed weighted overhead endurance, the supine capital flexion endurance test, and the Patient Specific Functional Scale. Both the treatment and control groups completed the initial and follow-up examinations, with an average duration of 4 wk between tests. RESULTS: Five mixed analyses of variance with follow-up tests showed a significant difference for all outcome measures in the treatment group compared with the control group. After an average 4 wk of physical therapy intervention, patients in the treatment group demonstrated statistically significant increases of cervical range of motion, decrease of pain, increases of physical performance measures, and decreases in the level of disability. The control group showed no differences in all five outcome variables between the initial and follow-up test scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study delineated algorithm-based clinical reasoning strategies for evaluating and treating patients with cervical pain. The algorithm can help clinicians classify patients with cervical pain into clinical patterns and provides pattern-specific guidelines for physical therapy interventions. An organized and specific physical therapy program was effective in improving the status of patients with neck pain.

A randomized controlled trial comparing 2 instructional approaches to home exercise instruction following arthroscopic full-thickness rotator cuff repair surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective unblinded randomized clinical trial. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of 2 types of home program instruction, videotape versus personal instruction by a physical therapist, on subjective outcomes and exercise compliance following arthroscopic repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. BACKGROUND: Advances in orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation have placed increased emphasis on home exercise programs. Therefore, assessing the effectiveness of different methods of home program instruction is important. METHODS AND MEASURES: Patients who consented to undergo surgical repair were randomly assigned to either a videotape or personal instruction group. A self-reported compliance log categorized subjects as fully compliant, partially compliant, or noncompliant. The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and the University of Pennsylvania Shoulder Scale scores were obtained from subjects preoperatively and at 12, 24, and 52 weeks postoperatively. The null hypotheses that neither group would have better outcomes as measured by 2 shoulder outcome scales at any level of compliance over 4 levels of time, were assessed by 2 separate 2x3x4 multiple analyses of variances (MANOVAs), 1 for each outcome measure (alpha = 0.025). RESULTS: Neither MANOVA was significant and the null hypotheses were not rejected. The main effect of time (number of weeks postsurgery) was significant across all time intervals for both outcome measures (P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: With a therapist available for questions, patients who utilized the videotape method for their home program instruction had self-reported outcomes equal to patients instructed in their home program personally by a physical therapist. Self-reported compliance with the rehabilitation program had little effect on the outcomes.

Reliability by surgical status of self-reported outcomes in patients who have shoulder pathologies.

STUDY DESIGN: A test-retest design was used to evaluate the reliability of the self-report sections of 4 shoulder pain and disability scales. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare interitem consistency and test-retest reliability by surgical status (postoperative versus nonoperative) and to evaluate the effect of surgical status in the prediction of retest scores. BACKGROUND: Patients and healthcare providers evaluate shoulder status based on self-evaluations of pain and disability. Shoulder outcome measures have been developed that include self-reports, but the properties of these measures have not been assessed by surgical status. METHODS AND MEASURES: A questionnaire containing self-report sections of 4 shoulder scales was administered to study participants twice with 1 week between administrations. The outcome measures examined were the: (1) University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Score; (2) Constant-Murley Scale (CMS); (3) American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES) Shoulder Index; and (4) Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to estimate the test-retest reliability of each of the scales and subscales. The interitem consistencies of the multi-item subscales were assessed using Cronbach's alpha. The effect of surgical status on shoulder outcome scale reliability was evaluated using a general linear models approach. RESULTS: The interitem consistency estimates for the multi-item scales were high with both operative and nonoperative participants (0.88 to 0.96). With the exception of the satisfaction subscale of the UCLA Shoulder Score for the nonsurgical group, the estimated intraclass coefficients ranged from 0.51 to 0.91. The prediction of UCLA-satisfaction and ASES-disability, pain, and total retest scores was improved with the addition of surgical status into a regression model. CONCLUSIONS: The examined scales exhibited good internal consistency across surgical status. The postsurgical sample's reproducibility estimates tended to be higher than those of the nonsurgical sample. Reliability of shoulder outcome scales can be affected by patient surgical status.