Reliability of a New Test of Levator Scapula Muscle Length

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background Shortened levator scapula (LS) is a major cause of neck and shoulder pain and reduced motor function. Therefore, measuring LS muscle length is a key element in evaluating patients with shoulder dysfunction.


Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of a newly designed levator scapular length test (LSLT).


Study design Intra- and inter-tester repeated measures.


Methods We recruited 28 participants in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups: normal scapula length and shortened scapula length. The LS index (LSI) and LSLT were applied twice by one examiner and once by a different examiner. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability of the LSI and LSLT. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between the tests.


Results The intra-rater reliability scores of LSI and LSLT were 0.95 and 0.98, and the inter-rater test reliability scores were 0.96 and 0.98, respectively. The correlation coefficient was 0.63, indicating a moderate relationship between tests.


Conclusions These findings suggest that LSLT is a reliable method for measuring LS length in clinical practice.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background Shortened levator scapula (LS) is a major cause of neck and shoulder pain and reduced motor function. Therefore, measuring LS muscle length is a key element in evaluating patients with shoulder dysfunction.




Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of a newly designed levator scapular length test (LSLT).




Study design Intra- and inter-tester repeated measures.




Methods We recruited 28 participants in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups: normal scapula length and shortened scapula length. The LS index (LSI) and LSLT were applied twice by one examiner and once by a different examiner. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability of the LSI and LSLT. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between the tests.




Results The intra-rater reliability scores of LSI and LSLT were 0.95 and 0.98, and the inter-rater test reliability scores were 0.96 and 0.98, respectively. The correlation coefficient was 0.63, indicating a moderate relationship between tests.




Conclusions These findings suggest that LSLT is a reliable method for measuring LS length in clinical practice.

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