Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of LHB Score

Introduction: Long head of biceps (LHB) pathologies are an important cause of pain and dysfunction. As LHB pathologies have specific components from other underlying or related pathologies, the LHB score is designed for an accurate assessment. The aim of this study was to adapt the LHB score into Turkish and to assess its validity and reliability. Materials and Methods: LHB score was translated and culturally adapted from English to Turkish, and then it was applied to 62 patients with biceps long head pathology. The reliability of the scale was checked through internal consistency and test-retest methods. Internal consistency was computed with Cronbach alpha value. Test-retest reliability was assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standard Shoulder Assessment Form and modified Constant-Murley score were used to analyze concurrent validity. Results: The Cronbach alpha value of the scale was found as .640. When the subsections of LHB score were computed separately, Cronbach alpha levels of pain/cramps and cosmesis sections were found as .753 and .774, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient value of the scale was found to be excellent (.940; P < .001). The total LHB score was determined to have a good positive correlation with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standard Shoulder Assessment Form (.527) and Constant-Murley score (.516). But an excellent correlation was revealed between the pain/cramps section of LHB score and other pain sections in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standard Shoulder Assessment Form (.811) and Constant-Murley score (.816) (P < .001). There was an excellent correlation (.916) between cosmesis section and Popeye sign (P < .001). There was a moderate correlation (.469) between elbow-flexion strength section of LHB score and the digital handheld dynamometer outcomes (P < .001). Conclusion: The Turkish version of the LHB is a valid and reliable tool, especially for biceps pathologies.