The inter-tester reliability of humeral head position in junior swimmers

ObjectivesTo determine the inter-tester reliability of a clinical measure of humeral head position.DesignSame day repeated measures inter-tester reliability study.Setting2 Western Australian Aquatic Centres.Participants15 Junior elite swimmers were measured by 3 investigators.Main Outcome MeasuresThe distance between the most anterior part of the humeral head and the anterior acromion was measured with shoulder in neutral position and hands on hips position.ResultsThe humeral head SEMs ranged from 2.4 to 3.2 mm. ICCs were 0.60–0.68 in the hands on hips position and 0.49 in the neutral position. Significant differences existed between testers for some humeral head measures.ConclusionsHumeral head in the hands on hips position measure appears to be a clinically useful tool in assessment of the shoulder in young athletes.