The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliabilityof using freehand threedimensional ultrasound to measurescapular rotations (internal/external, upward/downward,anterior/posterior). The scapular position in 22 healthy, nondisabledindividuals was imaged three times in four testing positionsof interest (arm at rest and humeral elevation in thesagittal, frontal, and scapular planes). We found substantialreliability across scanning positions and scapular rotations,with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.62 to0.95. The highest reliability was found in the rest testing position.Our standard error of measurement was less than2 degrees for all measurements and less than 0.5 degrees formost. Minimum detectable change ranged from 0.37 to3.08 degrees. Our results agree with the pattern of movementfound in other studies, with the scapula moving toward a moreexternally rotated, upwardly rotated, and posteriorly tilted positionwith humeral elevation. Further study is warranted to compareour methods to a gold standard, apply them to evaluationof dynamic movement, and determine whether they can be usedto detect shoulder pathology
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