Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy regarding palpation of the long head of biceps brachii tendon.
Methods: Seventy four patients with 148-shoulders were employed in this study. A marking was performed on the skin after palpation, and success/miss palpation was judged with a ultrasonography. Distance between surface of the body and the long head of the biceps brachii tendon, width of the biceptial groove and the degree of obesity were calculated, and the concern between accuracy of palpation and these results was investigated.
Results: The success rates were 100%, 100%, 92.9%, 50.0% and 15.0% in normal, obesity 1, 2, 3 and 4 degree, respectively and the differences were significant except between normal and obesity 1 degree. Distance between surface of the body and the long head of the biceps brachii tendon was deeper as the degree increased. There was no significant difference for the width of the biceptial groove.
Conclusion: Palpation was difficult in obesity 3 and 4 degree, and the cause of this result may be the distance between surface of the body and the long head of the biceps brachii tendon. There was no relationship between the width of the biceptial groove and accuracy of palpation.
