Interobserver Reliability of Neck-Mobility Measurement by Means of the Flock-of-Birds Electromagnetic Tracking System
Received 22 April 2004; received in revised form 7 October 2004
Abstract
Objective
To establish the interobserver reliability for measuring neck mobility in human subjects by means of an electromagnetic tracking device, the Flock-of-Birds system.
Methods
Two observers independently and in random order assessed the cervical range-of-motion in 30 subjects with a dysfunction in the neck and shoulder region (symptomatic subjects) and 30 subjects without known pathology (asymptomatic subjects). Measurements included rotation in neutral position, in flexed position and in extended position, flexion-extension, and lateral bending (all active and passive). Reliability was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and agreement by limits of agreement and percentage of paired observations within 5°, 10°, and 15°.
Results
For asymptomatic subjects, the ICC varied from 0.57 to 0.85, and the limits of agreement varied between 14.5° and 27.0°.The percentage of paired observations within 5°, 10°, and 15° ranged from 31% to 57%, 58% to 90%, and 78% to 93%, respectively. For symptomatic subjects, the ICC varied from 0.36 to 0.91, and the limits of agreement varied between 9.6° and 37.8°. The percentage of paired observations within 5°, 10°, and 15° ranged from 17% to 60%, 33% to 93%, and 50% to 97%, respectively.
Conclusions
Despite the use of a standardized protocol and a sophisticated measurement system, the interobserver reliability of neck mobility was variable in quality, with reliability being good in rotation in neutral position, flexion-extension, and lateral bending. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2005;28:408-413)
aCentre for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
bCentre for Rehabilitation, University Medical Centre Groningen, and Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
cCentre for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
dCentre for Rehabilitation, University Medical Centre Groningen, and Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
eCentre for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
fCentre for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Submit requests for reprints to: Nienke Assink, Centre for Rehabilitation, University Hospital Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Financial support was received from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (grant number 904-65-901) and “Stichting Anna Fonds.”
ABSTRACT