01384nas a2200181 4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653002400058653001200082100001600094700001200110700001300122245008900135300003500224490000700259050000600266520093000272 2006 d c5414783320110aPeer Reviewed Paper10aChecked1 aHerbert Rob1 aGinn K.1 aCohen M.00aDoes hand-behind-back range of motion accurately reflect shoulder internal rotation? a311-314. [Impact Factor 1.348]0 v15 aN3 a

Shoulder internal rotation (IR) is commonly assessed by an indirect method where the hand is placed behind the back and the distance reached by the tip of the extended thumb is recorded. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of measuring active IR range of motion (ROM) by use of the indirect hand-behind-back (HBB) ROM method in subjects with shoulder pain of mechanical origin. We recruited 137 subjects with unilateral shoulder pain. HBB ROM was determined by measuring the distance between the T1 spinous process and the radial styloid process. Active shoulder IR was measured in the supine position in 45 degrees or 90 degrees abduction. Correlation coefficients adjusted for measurement error were calculated. HBB ROM demonstrated only a low to moderate correlation with active shoulder IR. Active HBB ROM is not an accurate method of measuring active shoulder IR in patients with shoulder pain.