Assessment of Function-Related Tests for Subjects With Stiff Shoulders: Reliability, Validity, Clinical Usefulness, and Biomechanical Analysis
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 1
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Background:
Shoulder-related dysfunction (SD) is a common health problem in various patient populations. SD can affect an individual's ability to function independently, consequently decreasing quality of life. A battery of simple measurable function-related tests for patients with SD is important.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to test the reliability, validity, and potential clinical use of a battery of function-related tests in patients with SD. Additionally, the biomechanical characteristics of the battery of function-related tests will be analyzed in terms of three-dimensional shoulder complex movements and associated muscular activities.
Design:
Repeated measurements and descriptive study
Methods:
The affected arms of 60 symptomatic patients with SD will be assessed by two clinicians as well as by one clinician twice to calculate intertester and intrarater reliabilities. Assessment will include self-report measures and the battery of function-related tests (hand-in-neck, hand-to-scapula, hand-to-opposite-scapula, and modified Kibler's lateral scapular slide test). Pearson correlation or Spearman's rho correlation coefficients will be calculated and the correlation matrices will be examined for evidence of convergent and discriminative validity among pain, disability, and function-related measures in patients with SD. Principle axis factor analysis will be performed on the kinematic measurements and muscular electromyography (EMG) activities to characterize the factor loading of each task.
Detailed Description
Subjects:
Subjects with SDs will be recruited from the clinics in the department of Orthopedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). There are about three patients with SD among 40 outpatient visits from the clinics each week. It is estimated that at least two subjects with SD per week will participate in this study. Thus, it will take six months to recruit 60 subjects with SD. All patients will be recruited and tested within a 6-month period. They will receive a written and verbal explanation of the purposes and procedures of the study. If they agree to participate they will be required to sign approved informed consent forms approved by the Human Subjects Committee of NTUH.
The inclusion criteria are adults at least 18 years old. Patients with SD will have (1) a limited ROM of a shoulder joint (ROM losses of 25% or greater compared with the noninvolved shoulder in at least two of the following shoulder motions: glenohumeral flexion, abduction, or medial/lateral rotation), and (2) pain and stiffness in the shoulder region for at least three months, and (3) the consent of the patient's physician to participate in the study. Patients with SD will be excluded after an examination by a physical therapist if they have (1) reproduction of cervical symptoms during a cervical screening examination (active and resisted range of motion, active and resisted range of motion with overpressure, quadrant test), (2) numbness or tingling in the upper extremity, (3) a history of onset of symptoms due to traumatic injury, glenohumeral or AC joint dislocation; or (4) surgery on the shoulder.
Function-related tests:
Hand-in-neck:
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational
- Time Perspective
- Prospective
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Patients with SD will have:
- •A limited ROM of a shoulder joint (ROM losses of 25% or greater compared with the noninvolved shoulder in at least two of the following shoulder motions: glenohumeral flexion, abduction, or medial/lateral rotation)
- •Pain and stiffness in the shoulder region for at least three months
- •The consent of the patient's physician to participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria
- •Patients with SD will be excluded after an examination by a physical therapist if they have:
- •Reproduction of cervical symptoms during a cervical screening examination (active and resisted range of motion, active and resisted range of motion with overpressure, quadrant test)
- •Numbness or tingling in the upper extremity
- •A history of onset of symptoms due to traumatic injury, glenohumeral or acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation
- •Surgery on the shoulder