The reliability of shoulder range of motion measures in competitive swimmers

Objectives
Investigate reliability of shoulder internal and external rotation (IR, ER), abduction in internal rotation (ABIR) and combined elevation (CE) range of motion tests in competitive swimmers.

Design
Within participants, inter- and intra-examiner reliability.

Setting
Physiotherapy Department, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Participants
17 competitive swimmers (aged 12–24 years) who participate in at least 5 weekly swimming sessions and two physiotherapy examiners.

Main outcome measures
Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of IR, ER, ABIR and CE.

Results
Good to excellent intra-examiner reliability across tests (ICCs: 0.85–0.96) with standard error of measurement (SEM)and minimal detectable change at 90% confidence interval (MDC90) ranging from 2 to 5, and 5–12°, respectively. Good to excellent inter-examiner reliability for all tests (ICCs: 0.77–0.94) except left IR (ICC: 0.65). Inter-examiner SEM and MDC90 ranged from 2 to 5° and 5–12°, respectively.

Conclusion
Shoulder range of motion tests were reliable when applied by the same examiner. Inter-examiner reliability was acceptable for all tests except IR, which was affected by inconsistent manual scapula stabilisation between examiners.