The inter-tester reliability of humeral head position in junior swimmers

Abstract 

Objectives

To determine the inter-tester reliability of a clinical measure of humeral head position.

Design

Same day repeated measures inter-tester reliability study.

Setting

2 Western Australian Aquatic Centres.

Participants

15 Junior elite swimmers were measured by 3 investigators.

Main Outcome Measures

The distance between the most anterior part of the humeral head and the anterior acromion was measured with shoulder in neutral position and hands on hips position.

Results

The humeral head SEMs ranged from 2.4 to 3.2mm. ICCs were 0.60–0.68 in the hands on hips position and 0.49 in the neutral position. Significant differences existed between testers for some humeral head measures.

Conclusions

Humeral head in the hands on hips position measure appears to be a clinically useful tool in assessment of the shoulder in young athletes.

Keywords: Shoulder, Reliability, Palpation