Correlation between Performance-based and Self-reported Outcome Measures in Individuals with Frozen Shoulder: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Frozen shoulder is characterised by the development of dense adhesions, capsular thickness, and capsular restrictions. Due to restrictions in shoulder movement, individual with frozen shoulder face difficulties in activities of daily living. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is 13- item self-reported measure containing subscale of pain and disability, with total score of 130. Performance-based measure include three functional related tests of shoulder: hand to neck, hand to scapula, and hand to opposite scapula. In self-reported measures, factors like environmental, physical, social, and psychological aspects can lead to perceptual differences, while in performance-based measures, scoring is based on therapist point of view regarding patient functional impairment. So need for present study to examine any correlation between these two different outcome measures, determining whether both measures are required or if one can be used instead of other for individuals with frozen shoulder. Aim: To find correlation between performance-based and self-reported outcome measures in individuals with frozen shoulder. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024 at the Apollo Institute of Physiotherapy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The study was conducted in different physiotherapy clinics of Ahmedabad. Total 69 participants aged of more than 40 years, comprising both male and female gender, with pain predominantly in one shoulder and limitations of passive movements at Glenohumeral joint compared to unaffected side, individual with or without diabetes mellitus who could read and write in Gujarati were also included. After taking written informed consent, basic demographic data, including name, age, and gender, were collected. Then self-reported outcome measure scores were recorded using SPADI Gujarati (G) version. Performance-based measure scores were recorded using three function-related tests. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to determine the correlation between SPADI-G and the functional-related tests of shoulder. The level of significance was set at p≤0.05. Results: A total of 69 participants were included, with 42 males and 27 females. Result shows that hand to neck test (r-value=0.35, p-value=0.003) and hand to opposite scapula test (r-value=0.29, p-value=0.014) exhibited a weak positive significant correlation with SPADI. Whereas hand to scapula shows weak positive correlation (r-value=0.18, p-value=0.136) but was not significant. Conclusion: The present study showed a weak positive correlation between performance-based and self-reported outcome measures in individuals with frozen shoulder. This study concludes that assessment for individuals with frozen shoulder must incorporate both performance-based and selfreported measures.