Upper limb functional testing in athletes: A Delphi study

Background Functional testing has recently become more and more popular to assess athletes, both for injury prevention, as well as in an objective of performance. However, the relationship between the results of these tests and performances (or injuries) or their interpretation remains unclear.Objective The aim of this study is to explore the usefulness, the characteristics, and the interpretation of the most frequently used upper-limb functional test.Methods Twenty-two experts with an excellent knowledge of upper limb functional tests and an expertise in sports medicine and/or sports training of at least 5 years were recruited. They answered to qualitative and quantitative questions about functional testing trough structured questionnaires (online).Results Four rounds were needed to reach a consensus about the usefulness as well as the characteristics of each test. Different sports-specific batteries of tests were also suggested by the experts and reached consensus. However, concerning the interpretation of the test, a consensus was only found for half of the tests considered.Conclusion The current study summarizes the characteristics and the usefulness of the most popular upper-limb functional tests. However, the interpretation of some tests will have to be further explored since no consensus was found for them.