Introduction: Awareness of the position and movement of the upper limb is crucial for coordinated movement and injury prevention during daily activities. Shoulder joint injuries lead to decreased proprioceptive sensation, making the assessment of proprioception an important element of physiotherapeutic management of shoulder impairments and injuries. The assessment of shoulder joint position sense is performed using various measurement tools and under different testing conditions. The number of simple and reliable methods for evaluating shoulder joint position sense is limited, posing a challenge in finding strong clinical tools. Purpose: The aim of this thesis was to analyze the reliability of assessing shoulder joint position sense based on a literature review. Methods: Literature search was conducted using online databases PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as individual searches within the references of published sources. Results: Eight studies were included in the literature review, in which authors examined the reliability of assessing shoulder joint position sense using isokinetic dynamometer, laser pointer, mobile application, SPReT measurement tool, inclinometer, and goniometer. The reliability was assessed using intra- rater and inter-rater measurements. All protocols assessed active shoulder joint position sense. Excellent intra-rater reliability of shoulder joint position sense was demonstrated with the use of laser pointer, SPReT measurement tool, and mobile application. The inter-rater reliability was excellent for assessments using isokinetic dynamometer, laser pointer, and SPReT measurement tool. Discussion and conclusion: Among the analyzed studies, the assessment with laser pointer and SPReT measurement tool showed the highest reliability. For assessments using laser pointer, goniometer, inclinometer, and mobile application, the reliability decreases with increasing range of motion in the shoulder joint. Assessment with SPReT measurement tool is highly reliable for upper limb movements above the shoulder joint level. Assessment of active shoulder joint position sense with isokinetic dynamometer is most reliable in mid-range movements.
|