Inter-Rater Reliability of Physical Examinations in a Prospective Study of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2010-10, Vol.52 (10), p.1014-1018
• Main Authors: Smith, Caroline K., Bonauto, David K., Silverstein, Barbara A., Wilcox, Dana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Musculoskeletal diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases - diagnosis; Musculoskeletal Diseases - physiopathology; Occupational health; Occupational Medicine; Original Article; Physical Examination - methods; Physical examinations; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Studies; Upper Extremity - physiopathology; Washington
• ISSN: 1076-2752; 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181f4396b

Objective: To test the inter-rater reliability of physical examinations for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: A total of 111 subjects were examined by both an occupational medicine physician and a physical therapist, who were blinded to each others' tests results and subjects' current symptoms and health histories. Results: Inter-rater reliability was moderate to excellent (0.52 to 0.88) for shoulder tests but required the inclusion of symptoms for increased inter-rater reliability of fair to excellent (0.27 to 0.57) for the elbow and hand/wrist tests. Conclusions: With the lack of "gold standard" tests, it is important that epidemiologic field studies conduct and report inter-rater reliability testing results between study examiners. It is important for researchers to report the results of inter-rater reliability, so that practitioners can weigh the results of study findings to improve both their diagnosis and treatment of these costly injuries.