| Sumario: | The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of biomechanical output and subjective ratings of exertion in isometric and isokinetic shoulder forward flexion in healthy subjects. Twenty-seven healthy middle-aged subjects, 13 men and 14 women, took part in the study. The shoulder flexion performance in the right shoulder was investigated using an isokinetic dynamometer (KIN-COM). The investigation consisted of static contractions in two different positions, 30 degrees and 90 degrees, single dynamic contractions at two different angular velocities, 30 degrees/s and 90 degrees/s, and 100 repeated dynamic contractions. There was a fair to excellent test-retest agreement (intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC=0.45-0.95) for all the biomechanical tests. In general, the men exhibited higher relative reliability compared to the women, and when all subjects were analysed together the relative reliability was even better. Relative agreement of perceived exertion during the 100 contractions was highest during the second part of the test for the women separately kappa=0.55-1.00) and for all subjects kappa=0.50-0.77). The agreement of perceived exertion in men was generally low kappa=0.22-0.68) throughout the test. From results of the SEM% values, a change of 15% of biomechanical output or more is necessary if it should be interpreted as a change due to an intervention when testing shoulder flexion in healthy subjects using an isokinetic dynamometer.
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