Affiliations: McGill University Currie Gymnasium, Montreal, Quebec,
Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Karen V. Lomond, McGill University
Currie Gymnasium, 475 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec, H2W 1S4, Canada.
Tel.: +1 450 688 9550 ext. 4827; Fax: +1 514 298 4186; E-mail:
karen.lomond@mcgill.ca
Abstract: Objective: Obtaining reliable functional capacity measures from
injured workers is an essential part of the return to work (RTW) process. The
present study compares shoulder functional outcomes between healthy individuals
and others with neck/shoulder pain, assesses reliability and examines the
influence of repetitive movements on shoulder function. Methods: Subjects
performed trials of flexion and abduction active range of motion (ROM), and
cumulative power output (PO) in a pushing/pulling task on the Baltimore
Therapeutic Equipment Simulator II in two consecutive sessions. Tasks were
assessed before and after performing a repetitive arm task, during which heart
rate (HR) was recorded, until scoring 8 on the Borg CR-10 scale or on a
11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain. Participants: Persons with
chronic neck/shoulder pain (intensity ⩾ 3/10 for > 3 months) (n =
16) and an age- and sex-matched control group (n = 16). Results: Functional shoulder measures demonstrated strong inter-session reliability,
except PO in the pain group. Average repetitive task duration was shorter in
the pain group (4 min vs. 7 min). Conclusions: The protocol detected
both pain- and time-related impairments, with HR and PO being sensitive to
movement duration and ROM to pain.
