Article

The protractor method is a proposed clinical assessment tool, the
first to measure vertical scapular position, that directly compares scapular and
spinal landmarks. This tool has the potential to reliably and accurately measure
excessive scapular elevation or depression.
The purpose of this study
was to determine reliability and validity of the protractor method to measure
resting scapular position. DESIGN: An interrater and intratester reliability and
validity study was conducted. METHODS: Testing was conducted on the same day by 2
physical therapists who were blinded to each other's results. The vertical
distances between the spinous process of C7 and the superior margin of the medial
aspect of the spine of the scapula (C7 method) and the spinous process of T8 and
the inferior angle of the scapula (T8 method) were palpated and measured on the
symptomatic shoulder in 34 people with current shoulder pain using the protractor
method. Measurements were compared with 2-dimensional camera analysis to assess
validity. RESULTS: For intertester reliability, the standard error of measure,
minimal detectable change, and intraclass correlation coefficient were 6.3 mm,
17.3 mm, and .78, respectively, for the C7 method and 5.7 mm, 15.7 mm, and .82,
respectively, for the T8 method. For intratester reliability, the standard error
of measure, minimal detectable change, and intraclass correlation coefficient
were <0.9 mm, <2.5 mm, and .99, respectively. For validity, significant
correlations (r) and mean differences were .83 and 10.1 mm, respectively, for the
C7 method and .92 and 2.2 mm, respectively, for the T8 method. LIMITATION: The
results of this study are limited to static measurement of the scapula in one
plane. CONCLUSION: Both protractor methods were shown to have good reliability
and acceptable validity, with the T8 method demonstrating superior clinical
utility. The clinical use of the T8 method is recommended for measurement of
excessive resting scapular elevation or depression.
CI - (c) 2016 American Physical Therapy Association.

Langue : ANGLAIS