A Comparison of 3-D Shoulder Kinematics to Perform ADLs Between Older and Younger Adults

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe primary purpose of this study was to compare the 3-D kinematics of older and younger adults during activities of daily living. Twenty-five older and 27 younger asymptomatic participants were evaluated. The MotionMonitor was used to collect humerus, scapula, and trunk kinematic data. Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) were used to analyze kinematic differences. Significant differences between groups were found. In several comparisons, the older participants had significantly less shoulder joint complex motion than the younger participants. For feeding, the older participants had 16.3° less glenohumeral external rotation, 5.0° less scapular upward rotation, and 8.6° less scapular internal rotation. For reaching an overhead shelf, the older group had 8.1° less glenohumeral flexion, 11.8° less external rotation and 16.0° less scapular internal rotation. For hair combing, the older participants had 13.3° less glenohumeral external rotation, and 6.6° less scapular internal rotation. For washing the contralateral axilla, the older group had 7.7° less scapular internal rotation. In several other comparisons, the older group had significantly more shoulder complex motion than the younger participants. For hair combing, the older group had 14.6° more glenohumeral flexion. For washing the contralateral axilla, the older group demonstrated 7.8° more glenohumeral flexion and 13.0° more glenohumeral internal rotation. Overall, older and younger participants demonstrated significantly different shoulder joint complex kinematics. Age specific values should be considered when interacting with a patient presenting with shoulder dysfunction.