Primary outcome variables were amount of pain in the shoulder/arm recorded on the Visual Analogue Scale, and shoulder mobility (flexion, abduction) measured using a digital inclinometer under standardized conditions.
Passive glenohumeral abduction was measured first, followed by measurement of the passive external rotation.
Cheng and Pearcy [ 41] showed that an abduction angle measured in the frontal plane and a flexion angle measured in the sagittal plane can be significantly overestimated by the presence of out-of-plane movements.
Active shoulder abduction was measured as a combined glenohumeral and scapulothoracic motion, and active shoulder external rotation was measured with the arm at the side of the body.
Passive glenohumeral abduction was measured with the scapula stabilized while the humerus was passively abducted.
In addition to the standard supine examination for range of motion, the degree of abduction was measured with the patient observed standing and attempting to do "the splits" (Fig. 1f).
Passive thumb CMC abduction was measured using a newly designed torque-controlled device and the previously recommended caliper method.
The median strength of abduction as measured at an arm's length in 90° of abduction was 7.5 (P25 P75 6.0 10.0) kg for the operated arm versus 9.5 (P25 P75 7.0 11.0) kg for the contralateral arm.
Passive thumb CMC abduction was measured in both hands of these 52 people and the hands of another 20 healthy able-bodied individuals (total of 72 people and 144 hands).
