Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 28, Issue 7 , Pages 487-492, September 2005

Reliability of the Spin-T Cervical Goniometer in Measuring Cervical Range of Motion in an Asymptomatic Indian Population

  • Shabnam Agarwal, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Chief Physiotherapist, Belle Vue Clinic, Kolkata, India
    • Corresponding Author InformationSubmit requests for reprints to: Shabnam Agarwal, MSc, Belle Vue Clinic, 9, Dr. U.N. Brahnachari St., Kolkata 700 017, India
  • ,
  • Garry T. Allison, PhD, PT

      Affiliations

    • The Centre of Musculoskeletal Studies, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  • ,
  • Kevin P. Singer, PhD, PT

      Affiliations

    • The Centre of Musculoskeletal Studies, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Received 19 April 2004; received in revised form 17 January 2005

Abstract 

Objective

To examine the intratester reliability of the Spin-T goniometer, a cervical range of motion device, in a normal Indian population.

Methods

Subjects comprised 30 healthy adults with mean age of 34 years (range, 18-65 years). The subjects were stabilized in the sitting position and the Spin-T goniometer mounted on the head of the subject. The study design was a within-subject repeated intratester reliability trial conducted for cervical range of motion in 6 directions of movement. Three measurements were taken in each direction (flexion, extension lateral flexion, and lateral rotation) per participant. Reliability coefficients, intraclass correlation coefficients, and 95% confidence interval were derived from repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Where differences in ANOVA were detected, a paired t test was conducted and the typical error values and coefficient of variance were calculated.

Results

All repeated measures showed high intraclass correlation coefficients (all >0.96, P < .01). The ANOVA detected no differences between trials for all movements except rotation. The typical error values for the rotation trials did not exceed 2.5° and the coefficient of variance did not exceed 4%, which is clinically acceptable considering the normally variable cervical range of movement.

Conclusion

In this study, the Spin-T goniometer proved to be a reliable measuring instrument for cervical range of movement in an Indian population. The use of a laser pointer fixed to the instrument ensured a consistent neutral start position

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 Sources of support: No external funds were received for this research.

PII: S0161-4754(05)00183-1

doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.07.005

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 28, Issue 7 , Pages 487-492, September 2005