Shoulder and elbow joint position sense assessment using a mobile app in subjects with and without shoulder pain - between-days reliability

Objectives: To determine between-days reliability and the minimal detectable change for shoulder and elbow joint position sense assessment using a validated mobile app, in subjects with and without shoulder pain. Design: Reliability study. Setting: Clinical measurement. Participants: Subjects with (n = 25) and without shoulder pain (n = 29). Main outcome measures: Subjects were assessed by the same examiner in two sessions, with one-week interval. Active joint repositioning tests of shoulder flexion and scaption and elbow flexion were assessed at the target-angles of 50 degrees, 70 degrees, 90 degrees and 110 degrees. Intra-class correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were calculated for constant, absolute, total and variable errors. Results: Good to excellent reliability was found for constant, absolute and total errors at the target-angle of 50 degrees of scaption for healthy subjects; at 110 degrees of shoulder flexion and all target-angles for elbow for both groups. Conclusions: The mobile app is a reliable tool and may be useful for assessing shoulder joint position sense mainly at 110 degrees of flexion and for elbow between 50 degrees and 110 degrees of flexion in subjects with and without shoulder pain. Minimal detectable changes were demonstrated and may help clinicians to follow-up rehabilitation and researchers to interpret findings of studies. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.