Relationships between the seated single arm shot put test and Quick-DASH in patients being discharged from physical therapy

Background: Research examining the relationship between patient reported outcomes (PRO) and upper extremity functional performance tests (UEFPT) in patients with shoulder pathology are limited. Objective: To assess the relationship between the seated single arm shot put test (SSASPT) and the PRO Quick-Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) in patients being discharged from physical therapy after shoulder injury or surgery. Methods: Six physical therapists who regularly use the SSASPT and DASH from six different clinical sites provided SSASPT scores and completed Quick-DASH forms on 75 patients being discharged from rehabilitation following shoulder injury or surgery. Patients were grouped according to whether the involved shoulder was the dominant (n = 43) or nondominant (n = 32) limb. Three separate simple linear regression models, whole cohort and two patient groups, were created to determine the magnitude of the relationships (standardized betas) and change (betas) between DASH scores and the SSASPT limb symmetry index (LSI). Results: Neither whole cohort nor two groups exhibited statistically significant (P > .05) relationships between LSI and Quick-DASH scores based upon the standardized betas (−0.197–0.038). Additionally, neither the standardized betas (z = 1.49, P = .135) nor betas (z = 1.28, P = .200) were statistically different between the two groups. Conclusions: The current study revealed no association between SSASPT and the Quick-DASH at discharge from physical therapy following shoulder injury or surgery. Consequently, it may be important to perform a battery of tests that include both subjective PRO and objective UEFPT tests to obtain a comprehensive perspective of the patient's functional and perceived status.