A clinical method for functional assessment of the shoulder

Abstract

There is no satisfactory method for clinically assessing shoulder function. This paper presents a method of assessment by way of a simple 100-point scoring system incorporating subjective measures of pain and activity and objective tests of range of movement and power. This provides an overall assessment of clinical function, which is reproducible and can be used irrespective of shoulder pathology as the affected side is easily compared with the unaffected side. The scoring system is reproducible and can also be used to monitor change in function across time or following intervention.