New Activity Scale for Shoulder
Doctors are trying to find a quick and easy-to-use activity scale for the shoulder. The goal is to use activity to predict what will happen to that patient's shoulder.
Researchers tested five activities for this rating scale. These included carrying objects that weighed eight pounds or more, using arms overhead, and weight training. Two other measures included swinging motion of the arms and lifting objects that weighed 25 pounds or more.
The scale went through several cycles of patient testing. It turns out the activity scale can't give a prognosis for patients with shoulder problems. It may be better used to describe shoulder disorders.
The authors say more research is needed to find a reliable and accurate way to predict outcomes of shoulder disorders. For now this tool gives a good measure of shoulder activity. It shows what and how much patients are doing instead of how much trouble they are having with specific tasks.
References: Robert H. Brophy, MD, et al. Measurement of Shoulder Activity Level. In Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. October 2005. Vol. 439. Pp. 101-108.
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