Accuracy of long head of the biceps tendon palpation by physical therapists; an ultrasonographic study

[Purpose] Examination and treatment of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) requires accurate palpation. The purpose of this study was to determine physical therapists’ reliability and ability to accurately palpate the LHBT in two arm positions with ultrasound as the gold standard. [Participants and Methods] Examiners palpated the LHBT within the intertubercular groove (ITG) of the humerus on the bilateral shoulders of 32 asymptomatic (21 female; 24.3 ± 1.9 years) participants in 2 arm positions. The magnitude of distance between a marker and the border of the ITG was compared between 2 positions using an independent t-test. Percent accuracy was calculated. [Results] Inter-rater reliability was poor (position 1, k=1.04; position 2, k=0.016). Overall accuracy rate was 45.7% (117/256). Accuracy was 49.2% (63/128) and 42.2% (54/128) for testing position 1 and position 2 respectively. Mean distance palpated from the groove was M=2.58 mm (± 6.2 mm) for position 1 and M=3.77 mm (± 6.6 mm) for position 2. Inaccurate palpation occurred medially 72.3% (47/65) and 93.2% (69/74) in position 1 and position 2 respectively. [Conclusion] Results of this study did not support one arm position being more accurate over another for LHBT palpation.