Accuracy of Two Methods in Estimating Target Muscle Force During Shoulder Submaximal Isometric Contractions.
Sean F Griech, Christos Karagiannopoulos
PMID 39758690WHAT IT FOUND
Healthy adults could estimate 50% shoulder effort using either an opposite-side reference or verbal-only commands.
Both were reasonably accurate, but use them only when a same-side maximum effort is not possible.
Key findings
01Across both sides and both shoulder motions, estimated efforts tracked actual submaximal efforts for both methods.
02Overall, estimated efforts differed from actual efforts by -1.36% with reciprocal reference and 2.25% with no reference.
03For external rotation and internal rotation separately, estimation errors ranged from -6.48% to 5.50%.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study tested healthy young adults, so it does not show how accurately people with shoulder pain, postoperative restrictions, or older adults can estimate effort. Only 50% of maximum effort was tested, so the results do not cover other prescribed submaximal levels. Most participants were female, and the study did not examine whether accuracy differs by sex. Participants' activity before testing and age were not controlled as factors that could affect force production.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these results as proof that injured shoulder patients can estimate effort levels. The study tested only healthy adults, and it did not test other submaximal levels.