Assessing the Reliability of Digital Caliper Measurements in Shoulder Flexion Assessment: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

This initial study evaluated the reliability and validity of digital caliper measurements for assessing pectoralis minor muscle length through the tabletop test. Three evaluators assessed a total of 180 subjects, each documenting the average of three measurements. The findings demonstrated outstanding intra-rater and inter-tester reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.996 and 0.999, respectively) and exceptional internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.999). The assessments exhibited robust face, construct, and content validity, affirming their therapeutic significance. These data confirm that digital calipers are a dependable and valid instrument for measuring shoulder flexion impairment linked to pectoralis minor muscle tightness.