Open Accessreliability of the scapular posture and scapular dyskinesis tests in rugby union players
Author(s) -
Vincent Singh,
Keith Stokes,
Grant Trewartha,
Carly McKay
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
south african journal of sports medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2078-516X
pISSN - 1015-5163
DOI - 10.17159/2078-516x/2021/v33i1a11674
Subject(s) - scapula , physical therapy , inter rater reliability , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , kappa , reliability (semiconductor) , test (biology) , athletes , session (web analytics) , psychology , surgery , computer science , mathematics , rating scale , paleontology , developmental psychology , power (physics) , physics , geometry , quantum mechanics , world wide web , biology
OBJECTIVES: To determine the reliability of static scapular posture (SP), clavicular tilt angle (CTA) and the scapular dyskinesis (SD) assessments by expert and student therapists.
DESIGN: inter-rater and intra-rater reliability study.
SETTING: University level male rugby union club
PARTICIPANTS: Four sport rehabilitation students and one experienced physiotherapist evaluated the position of the scapular and clavicle of male university-level rugby union players (inter-rater participants: session 1: n=17, session 2: n=12 and session 3: n=16; intra–rater participants: n = 12).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESː Participants attended 3 testing sessions, each 1 week apart. Scapular orientation and motion were assessed in five planes of movement and using the Scapular Dyskinesis Test (SDT) respectively.
RESULTSː Kappa coefficient values and percentage agreement ratings for students compared to the experienced therapist were: SP=poor to fair (-0.01-0.33), (27% - 94%); SDT=slight (0.16) (41%); CTA=fair (0.21) (59%). Test-retest (intra-rater) agreement was fair to moderate (0.22 – 0.44) (69% -95%), slight (0.12) (47%), and fair (0.39) (77%) for the SP, SDT, and CTA, respectively.
CONCLUSIONSː Static and dynamic evaluation of the shoulder by students and an experienced therapist has poor to moderate reliability and should not be used to make clinical decisions based on observation alone.