Interrater reliability and intrarater reliability of lateral scapular slide tests of females in their 20s

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to examine the intrarater reliability and intrarater reliability of lateral scapular slide tests among young females. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 60 female students in U University in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea participated in this study. Lateral scapular slide tests (LSST) were conducted to identify interrater & intrarater reliability. In the LSSTs, the distance from the inferior angle of the scapula to thoracic vertebral spinous process T8 was measured in three positions (shoulder joint 0°, 45°, and 90° abduction) using tape measures. [Results] Intrarater reliability is shown to be moderate with scores not lower than 0.7 in left positions 1 and 3 and is shown to be excellent with scores not lower than 0.9 in the remaining positions. Interrater reliability is shown to be excellent with scores not lower than 0.9 in all three left and right positions. [Conclusion] LSST is sufficiently high to be accepted as an objective tool in the results of general previous studies. In addition, it can be considered useful at clinics because the measuring tool and method are simple.