Simple Shoulder Test.

Attributes of the simple shoulder test

Reproducibility, practicality, and more

The SST has demonstrated a high degree of reproducibility. In normal subjects, the reproducibility is essentially 100%, with almost all subjects answering "yes" to all twelve questions. As a more stringent test, we tested seventy patients with abnormal SST's and then retested them 5 to 30 days later (average 14 days). Sixty-three percent of the patients had identical responses on retesting. Ninety percent of the patients answered no more than one question differently on retest. Over 96 percent made no more than two different responses on retest. This lack of absolute reproducibility is not a deficiency of the SST; instead it reflects an actual day-to-day variation in some patients' view of their shoulder function.

The Simple Shoulder Test provides a practical method for determining the pretreatment shoulder function as well as the shoulder function at various intervals after the treatment. Sequential SST's indicate the length of time required to achieve maximum functional benefit after treatment. The difference between the shoulder function before treatment and after the recovery period is the effectiveness of the treatment.

The simplicity of the SST facilitates the communication of results to patients. Prospective surgical candidates are able to compare their own pretreatment status with the typical pretreatment status of others having the same diagnosis. This information enables them to answer questions such as, "How bad is my arthritis in comparison with other individuals who have had a total shoulder replacement?" Similarly, by reviewing the functional results of a given treatment for their diagnosis, patients can answer the questions, "What are the chances that I will be able to do these activities after the treatment?" and "How long will it take before I see improvement?"

The SST facilitates comparisons because

1. the questions are standardized,
2. the SST is a patient self-assessment (eliminating concerns about inter-observer variations),
3. the SST is simple and free (so it can be repeated often and used by anyone).

Disclaimer

This resource has been provided by the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine as general information only. This information may not apply to a specific patient. Additional information may be found at http://www.orthop.washington.edu or by contacting the UW Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

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