Scapular Dyskinesis Clinical Assessment
Objective: To determine the interrater reliability of a clinical test designed to detect abnormal scapular motion (dyskinesis) during weighted shoulder flexion and abduction in overhead athletes
Protocol Steps
Participant positioning and task setup
Participants are positioned to be videotaped from the posterior aspect. They are prepared to perform bilateral weighted shoulder movements.
Note: Posterior view is critical for assessing scapular motion
View evidence from paper
“Participants were videotaped from the posterior aspect while performing 5 repetitions of bilateral, weighted shoulder flexion and frontal-plane abduction”
Perform weighted shoulder flexion
Participants perform bilateral shoulder flexion while holding weights of either 1.4-kg or 2.3-kg in each hand
Note: Weight selection (1.4-kg or 2.3-kg) not specified in methods
View evidence from paper
“bilateral, weighted (1.4-kg [3-lb] or 2.3-kg [5-lb]) shoulder flexion and frontal-plane abduction”
Perform weighted frontal-plane abduction
Participants perform bilateral shoulder abduction in the frontal plane while holding the same weights
Note: Frontal-plane abduction is the second movement task assessed
View evidence from paper
“bilateral, weighted (1.4-kg [3-lb] or 2.3-kg [5-lb]) shoulder flexion and frontal-plane abduction”
Video recording and rater selection
Videotapes from randomly chosen participants are selected for rating by trained raters
Note: Random selection of participants ensures unbiased sampling
View evidence from paper
“Videotapes from randomly chosen participants were subsequently viewed and independently rated for the presence of scapular dyskinesis by 6 raters (3 pairs), with each pair rating 30 different participants”
Rater training
Six raters (organized in 3 pairs) are trained to detect scapular dyskinesis using a self-instructional format with standardized operational definitions and videotaped examples of normal and abnormal motion
Note: Training standardization is critical for reliability assessment
View evidence from paper
“Raters were trained to detect scapular dyskinesis using a self-instructional format with standardized operational definitions and videotaped examples of normal and abnormal motion”
Independent video rating by rater pairs
Each of the 3 rater pairs independently views and rates videotapes from 30 different participants for the presence of scapular dyskinesis
Note: Independent rating by pairs allows assessment of interrater reliability
View evidence from paper
“6 raters (3 pairs), with each pair rating 30 different participants”
Bilateral scapular assessment
Right and left sides are rated independently as normal, subtle, or obvious dyskinesis
Note: Three-category rating scale: normal, subtle dyskinesis, or obvious dyskinesis
View evidence from paper
“Right and left sides were rated independently as normal, subtle, or obvious dyskinesis”
Reliability analysis
Percentage of agreement and weighted kappa coefficients are calculated to determine interrater reliability
Note: Statistical analysis of agreement between rater pairs
View evidence from paper
“We calculated percentage of agreement and weighted kappa (κw) coefficients to determine reliability”