Reliability of the Spin-T Cervical Goniometer in Measuring Cervical Range of Motion in an Asymptomatic Indian Population
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
aChief Physiotherapist, Belle Vue Clinic, Kolkata, India
bThe Centre of Musculoskeletal Studies, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
cThe Centre of Musculoskeletal Studies, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Submit requests for reprints to: Shabnam Agarwal, MSc, Belle Vue Clinic, 9, Dr. U.N. Brahnachari St., Kolkata 700 017, India
Sources of support: No external funds were received for this research.
ABSTRACT