An Instrument-Assisted Coracoid Pain Test: An Exploratory Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Michel GCAM Mertens, Mira Meeus, Louise Pieters, Mercè Balasch-Bernat, Lirios Dueñas, Olivier Verborgt and Filip Struyf ()
Additional contact information
Michel GCAM Mertens: Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Mira Meeus: Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Louise Pieters: Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Mercè Balasch-Bernat: Physiotherapy in Motion, Multi-Specialty Research Group (PTinMOTION), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, C/Gasco Oliag 5, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Lirios Dueñas: Physiotherapy in Motion, Multi-Specialty Research Group (PTinMOTION), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, C/Gasco Oliag 5, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Olivier Verborgt: Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Filip Struyf: Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-11

Abstract: The coracoid pain test (CPT) could contribute to the diagnosis of frozen shoulder (FS) with palpation. However, due to assessor performance these values might be unreliable. Therefore, the aim was to explore the diagnostic accuracy of an instrument-assisted CPT and two alternative approaches (pain severity and side comparison) for assistance in the diagnosis of FS. Patients with FS and healthy age-matched controls were recruited. All participants underwent the instrument-assisted CPT on both shoulders with a pressure algometer. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were determined for the three approaches. In total, 35 patients with FS and 35 healthy participants were included. The original approach was positive in eight participants (11.4%), with only sufficient specificity to draw a conclusion. The pain severity approach was positive in 31 participants (44.3%) with sufficient sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios. The side comparison approach was positive in 10 participants (14.3%) with excellent specificity and positive likelihood ratio. The specificity of the instrument-assisted CPT can be used to increase the probability of FS with both the original and alternative approaches. Only the pain severity approach can draw a conclusion with a negative test result. This study should be repeated with a cross-sectional design to strengthen and confirm the conclusions.

Keywords: frozen shoulder; diagnostic test accuracy; coracoid pain test; diagnostic tests (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12735/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12735/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12735-:d:933911

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().