Affiliations: Achieve Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine,
Grand Rapids, MI, USA | Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI, USA | Health Motion Physical Therapy, Grand Rapids, MI,
USA | Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: John R. Stevenson, Grand Valley
State University, 310C DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street W, Grand Rapids, MI
49504, USA. Tel.: +1 616 331 2675; E-mail: stevensj@gvsu.edu
Abstract: Objective: The purposes of this study were to establish the validity
of a digital goniometer (DG) prototype, determine the inter- and intra-rater
reliability of the DG as compared to the universal goniometer (UG), and
evaluate and describe the clinical usability of the DG as a measurement tool. Participants: Eighteen healthy patient models and 5 physical therapists
volunteered to participate. Methods: Reliability testing of both
the UG and DG was determined from the measurements of 5 therapists who
performed 2 randomized, repeated measures of 5 joint motions on each of 6
patient models during 3 data collection sessions. To determine the validity of
the DG, the investigators measured 8 randomly selected, computer-aided design
(CAD) angles during each of the 3 data collection sessions. Physical therapist
participants completed pre-/post-surveys to assess perceptions of clinical
usability of the DG. Results: No statistically significant differences
were found between devices. Comparison of the DG and UG demonstrated no
difference for intra- or inter-rater reliability, with the DG yielding higher
inter-rater ICC values for each of the 5~motions measured. Conclusions: The DG has adequate concurrent criterion-related validity as a tool for
assessment of joint ROM and equivalent inter- and intra-rater reliability to
the UG. User surveys indicated that several of the novel features of the DG
contributed to a higher likelihood that the device would be utilized by
clinicians.
Keywords: Upper extremity, measurement, range of motion (ROM)
