Simple Shoulder Test.

Last updated Thursday, February 10, 2005

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More about the SST

What questions are asked on the Simple Shoulder Test (SST)?

The questions of the SST are:

1. Is your shoulder comfortable with your arm at rest by your side?
2. Does your shoulder allow you to sleep comfortably?
3. Can you reach the small of your back to tuck in your shirt with your hand?
4. Can you place your hand behind your head with the elbow straight out to the side?
5. Can you place a coin on a shelf at the level of your shoulder without bending your elbow?
6. Can you lift one pound (a full pint container) to the level of your shoulder without bending your elbow?
7. Can you lift eight pounds (a full gallon container) to the level of the top of your head without bending your elbow?
8. Can you carry 20 pounds at your side with the affected extremity?
9. Do you think you can toss a softball underhand 10 yards with the affected extremity?
10. Do you think you can throw a softball overhand 20 yards with the affected extremity?
11. Can you wash the back of your opposite shoulder with the affected extremity?
12. Would your shoulder allow you to work full-time at your usual job?

What conditions are evaluated with the Simple Shoulder Test (SST)?

Each of the conditions potentially afflicting the shoulder may vary substantially in severity. The diagnoses of instability, cuff disease, arthritis, or frozen shoulder do not of themselves indicate the need for treatment. The need for treatment arises from the effect of the condition on the patient's function.

These data are easily presented in charts which show the percent of patients who cannot perform each of the 12 functions. Consult figures 1 and 2 to review SST data for patients presenting to the University of Washington Shoulder and Elbow Service with degenerative glenohumeral joint disease. The SST also facilitates comparisons, for example of the shoulder function of patients presenting with degenerative and rheumatoid glenohumeral joint disease (see figures 3 and 4).

The success of a treatment method is determined largely by its ability to restore function. The SST provides a practical method for evaluating results. We prefer to present the results in terms of the percent of patients gaining (and losing) each function after the treatment was instituted. Consult figures 5 and 6 for data about patients with degenerative glenohumeral joint disease treated with total shoulder arthroplasty. The standardized nature of the SST facilitates comparison of the effectiveness of different treatment methods, different diagnoses and different surgeons. For a comparison with the DJD results, see figures 7 and 8 with data about patients with rheumatoid glenohumeral joint disease treated with total shoulder arthroplasty.

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