• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.62-70
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• 2015

The aims of the current study were to assess reliability of range of motion (ROM) measurement of glenohumeral internal rotation (GIR) with a pressure biofeedback stabilization (PBS) method and to compare the reliability between manual stabilization (MS) and the PBS method. In measurement of pure glenohumeral joint motion, scapular stabilization is necessary. The MS method in GIR ROM measurement was used to restrict scapular motion by pressing the palm of the tester's hand over the subject's clavicle, coracoid process, and humeral head. The PBS method was devised to maintain consistent pressure for scapular stabilization during GIR ROM measurement by using a pressure biofeedback unit. GIR ROM was measured by 2 different stabilization methods in 32 subjects with GIR deficit using a smartphone clinometer application. Repeated measurements were performed in two test sessions by two testers to confirm inter- and intra-rater reliability. After tester A performed measurements in test session 1, tester B's measurements were conducted one hour later on the same day to assess the inter-rater reliability and then tester A performed again measurements in test session 2 for confirming the intra-rater reliability. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) (2,1) was applied to assess the inter-rater reliability and ICC (3,1) was applied to determine the intra-rater reliability of the two methods. In the PBS method, the intra-rater reliability was excellent (ICC=.91) and the inter-rater reliability was good (ICC=.84). The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the PBS method was higher than in the MS method. The PBS method could regulate manual scapular stabilization pressure in inter- and intra-rater measuring GIR ROM. Results of the current study recommend that the PBS method can provide reliable measurement data on GIR ROM.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to establish the concurrent validity of the universal goniometer and electronic inclinometer for ankle joint of motion, and to determine the inter-tester and the intra-tester reliability of these two instruments. Methods: Subjects were instructed 25 healthy subjects. Ankle range of motion was measured on two separate occasions 2 or 3 days by two physical therapists. Ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was by using an universal goniometer and an electronic inclinometer. Results: The Pearson product-moment correlation between the two instruments was 0.78~0.80. The ICCs for inter-tester reliability ranged from 0.63 to 0.73 for universal goniometer and ranged from 0.81 to 0.88 for electric inclinometer. The ICCs for intra-tester reliability showed a wide variation(ICC=0.61 to 0.86). Conclusion: These findings indicate that the two instruments are reliable instruments for measuring ankle joint range of motion. The results also indicate that the two instruments can be used interchangeably for measuring ankle motions.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.65-72
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess the intra-tester and inter-tester reliability and validity of elbow flexion range of motion using a smart phone used by the general public. Thirty-one general people participated in this study. The range of motion in active elbow flexion was measured with a goniometer and smart phone over two times by two observers. The intra-taster and inter-tester reliability were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC). The validity was measured by Pearson's correlation coefficient. The intra-observer reliability was good in all measured items ICC>0.900. The inter-observer reliability was high with ICC>0.806. All correlation coefficients of android app and goniometer were greater than 0.868 and showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.01). The range of motion measurement with a smart phone showed acceptable reliability. Therefore, using a smartphone to measure the range of motion of the elbow joint could provide convenience and economic benefits.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to assess the intra-tester and inter-tester reliability and validity of hip range of motion using a smart phone in hip operative patients. METHODS: Twenty-five patients (eight total hip arthroplasty and seventeen femur neck fracture) participated in this study. The range of motions in active and passive hip flexion, abduction and external rotation were measured with a goniometer and smart phone over two times by two observers. The intra-tester and inter-tester reliability were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1). The validity was measured by Pearson's correlation coefficient RESULTS: The intra-observer reliability was good in all measured items (ICC>0.78). The inter-observer reliability was high with ICC (>0.90). All correlation coefficients of smart phone and goniometer was greater than 0.85 and showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The range of motion measurement with a smart phone showed acceptable reliability. Therefore, it could be convenient and have economical benefits to measure the range of motion of the hip joint using a smart phone.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.46-55
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to assess the concurrent validity and reliability of goniometric measurement of joint motion. Subjects were 40 healthy university students. Measurements were performed by 4 inexperienced physical therapy students. Four different instruments were used and three readings were taken with each instrument in random order making a total of 12 readings for flexion of the right elbow of each subject. Goniometers used were 1. universal 2. fluid-based goniometer/inclinometer 3. digital LCD goniometer 4. electronic goniometer/torsiometer. The results were as follows: Concurrent validity was highest (r= .94) with the universal and digital LCD tools. Interrater reliability (Pearson Product Moment Correlation) was good for each tool. Interrater reliability calculated by ICC(2,1) was highest (.96) with the tensiometer and lowest (.78) with the digital LCD goniometer. Intrarater reliability calculated by ICC was excellent (${\geq}.90$) for all instruments. These results show that concurrent validity, intrarater and interrater reliability are very good in the used of all four types of goniometers/inclinometer/tensiometer, even with inexperienced raters. These results confirm the almost universal reliance on hand held goniometers for joint measurement by physical therapists as being a reliable practice. Further research should be done clinically with actual patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.329-337
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• 2019

Purpose: Ultrasound imaging is commonly used to measure the pennation angle of human skeletal muscles in vivo. However, manual assessment of the pennation angle using ultrasound images is subjective and time-consuming and requires a high level of examiner skill. The architectural analysis of human skeletal muscles is thus challenging. Automated approaches using image processing techniques are therefore required to estimate the pennation angle in ultrasound images. The purpose of this study was thus to assess the intra-tester and inter-tester reliability and validity of the pennation angle using an automatic measurement program. Methods: Twenty-two healthy young adults (mean age = 22.55 years) with no medical history of neurological or musculoskeletal disorders voluntarily participated in this study. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure the pennation angle of the gastrocnemius muscle at rest. One examiner acquired images from all the participants. The intra-tester and inter-tester reliability were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to estimate reliability. Validity was measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: The intra-rater reliability was excellent for the automatic pennation angle measuring program and the manual pennation angle assessment method (ICC>0.95). The inter-rater reliability was also excellent for both methods (ICC>0.93). All the correlation coefficients for the automatic pennation angle measuring program and the manual pennation angle assessment method were 0.79, which indicated a significantly positive correlation (p<0.05). Conclusion: Pennation angle measurement using the automatic pennation angle measuring program showed acceptable reliability and validity. This study therefore demonstrated that the automatic measuring program was able to automatically measure the pennation angle of skeletal muscles using ultrasound images, and thus made it easy to investigate skeletal muscle architecture.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate inter-tester reliability and Intra-tester reliability about range of motion(ROM) measurement of hip joint with smartphone inclinometer. Method : Six observers performed goniometric and smartphone inclinometer measurements of various hip movements, including both active ROM for flexion, extension, external rotation, internal rotation. Measurements were performed in the right hip of fifty normal subjects. All measures were performed three times for evaluating reliability of observer. Inter- and intra-observer reliabilities were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC). Result : The results were as follows, inter-observer reliability ICC value showed .948-.974 in smartphone inclinometer. And showed .781-.827 in goniometer. Intra-observer reliability ICC value showed .653-.992 in smartphone inclinometer. And showed .613-.854 in goniometer. Conclusion : Smartphone inclinometer are portable and widely available tools that are mostly reliable and valid for assessing active hip range of motion, with potential use when a goniometer is not available.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.57-63
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to evaluate inter-rater reliability of the amplitude and first knee extension angles in deep tendon reflex test by using an electrical hammer. Twenty-five healthy adults participated in the study. Compound muscle action potential is elicited by tapping the knee tendon with an electrical hammer in deep tendon reflex tests. The amplitude and knee extension angle were simultaneously measured. The mean value of the amplitude and the knee extension angles through three time trials for each tester, are used for determining the inter-rater and Intra-class Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) reliabilities. According to the results, the ICCs of the amplitude is .280 and that of the knee extension angle is .789. Pearson correlation coefficients of the amplitude of the action potential and the knee extension angles are .685, showing significant statistically moderate correlation. Inter-rater reliability in the amplitude was not significant. More objective and quantitative deep tendon reflex tests should be done to obtain higher reliability in further studies.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.67-75
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement of manual muscle testing (MMT) and test-retest reliability of a hand held dynamometer for the posterior gluteus medius muscle, with and without lumbar stabilization, using a pressure biofeedback unit for patients with low back pain. The pressure biofeedback unit was used to minimize the substitute motion of the lumbopelvic region during hip abduction in patients lying on their side. Fifteen patients with low back pain participated in this study. A tester determined the MMT grades of the posterior gluteus medius with and without the pressure biofeedback unit. Active hip abduction range of motion with an inclinometer and the strength of their posterior gluteus medius using a hand held dynamometer were measured with and without the pressure biofeedback unit in the MMT position. The agreement of the grade of muscle strength in the MMT, and intra-rater reliability of both the active hip abduction range of motion and the strength of posterior gluteus medius were analyzed using the weighted kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. The agreement of MMT with the pressure biofeedback unit (weighted kappa=.92) was higher than the MMT (weighted kappa=.34)(p<.05). The inclinometer with pressure biofeedback unit measurement of the active hip abduction range of motion had an excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC=.90). Also, the hand held dynamometer with pressure biofeedback unit measure of strength of the posterior gluteus medius had a good intra-rater reliability (ICC=.85). Therefore, the test for muscle strength with pressure biofeedback unit will be a reliable method for the determination of the MMT grades or amount of posterior gluteus medius muscle strength and the measurement of the range of motion for hip abduction in patients with low back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the inter-rater reliability of cervical proprioception, dynamic balance ability, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion using STARmat^®, which is a practical clinical tool that can provide practitioners and patients with quantitative and qualitative results. Methods: Thirty healthy young subjects were enrolled in this study, and two well-trained physical therapists participated as a tester. Two testers measured the cervical joint position error at the starting position after neck flexion, extension, side bending, and rotation; three dynamic balance tests, including anterior excursion, anterior reaching with single leg balance, and posterior diagonal excursion; and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion using STARmat^®. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the inter-rater reliability of the tests. Results: The inter-rater reliability for the cervical proprioception ranged from moderate to good (0.66 to 0.83), particularly for flexion (0.82), extension (0.70), right side bending (0.73), left side bending (0.71), right rotation (0.83), and left rotation (0.66). For the dynamic balance, the inter-rater reliability ranged from good to excellent (0.87 to 0.91), particularly for anterior excursion (0.86), posterior diagonal excursion (0.87 to 0.89), and anterior reaching with a single leg balance (0.90 to 0.91). In addition, for the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, the ICC for the inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.95 to 0.96. Conclusion: STARmat^® is a reliable tool for measuring cervical proprioception, dynamic balance tests, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in healthy young adults.