Abstract
PurposeTo evaluate the intra and interobserver reproducibility of a new goniometric method for evaluating the isolated passive range of motion of the glenohumeral joint in an outpatient setting.MethodsThis is a prospective observational study on healthy subjects. The Glenohumeral ROM Assessment with Scapular Pinch (GRASP) method is a new method for assessing the isolated range of motion (ROM) of the glenohumeral joint (GH) by a single examiner with a clinical goniometer. It measures the isolated glenohumeral passive abduction (GH-AB), passive external rotation (GH-ER) and internal rotation (GH-IR) with the arm at 45º of abduction.These three GH ROM parameters were measured in both shoulders of 30 healthy volunteers (15 males/15 females, mean age:41.6[SD = 10.3] years). The full shoulder passive abduction, passive external rotation and internal rotation 45º of abduction were measured by the same examiners with a goniometer for comparison. One examiner made two evaluations and a second examiner made a third one. The primary outcome was the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of the measurements assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the Bland–Altman plot.ResultsThe intra-observer ICC for isolated glenohumeral ROM were: 0.84 ± 0.07 for GH-ABD, 0.63 ± 0.09 for GH-ER, and 0.61 ± 0.14 for GH-IR. The inter-observer ICC for isolated glenohumeral ROM were: 0.86 ± 0.06 for GH-ABD, 0.68 ± 0.12 for GH-ER, and 0.62 ± 0.14 for GH-IR. These results were similar to those obtained for full shoulder ROM assessment with a goniometer.ConclusionThe GRASP method is reproducible for quick assessment of isolated glenohumeral ROM.Level of evidenceIII
Highlights
The shoulder joint is a complex system in which four different joints work synchronically
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility in healthy adults of a new simple goniometric method, the Glenohumeral range of motion (ROM) Assessment with Scapular Pinch (GRASP), that measures selectively the passive abduction (PABD), passive external (PER) and PIR of the glenohumeral joint and can be used by a single examiner using a simple clinical goniometer
Measurement method The Glenohumeral ROM Assessment with Scapular Pinch (GRASP) method was developed to allow for quick assessment of the passive abduction, external and internal rotation ROM of the glenohumeral joint with
Summary
The shoulder joint is a complex system in which four different joints (glenohumeral, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular and scapulothoracic) work synchronically. The importance of understanding the degree of involvement of the glenohumeral joint in the total shoulder ROM has been shown in the general population and in athletes for problems such as adhesive capsulitis[14, 16] or glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) [19]. In both problems the full-shoulder ROM (FS-ROM) might be normal or only slightly changed as glenohumeral stiffness is masked by scapulothoracic hypermobility
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