Goniometric Reliability in a Clinical Setting

Abstract

Measurements of the subtalar joint neutral (STJN) position and passive range of motion (PROM) of the ankle joint and the subtalar joint (STJ) are often part of a physical therapy evaluation. These measurements may be used in treatment planning, such as in the prescription of specialized shoes or orthoses. Therefore, reliability of these measurements, as they are obtained clinically, must be determined. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of measurements of the STJN position and of ankle and STJ PROM. To determine reliability, repeated measurements of the STJN position and of STJ PROM were taken on the involved feet of 43 patients with neurologic orthopedic disorders (including both feet of 7 patients), and measurements of ankle PROM (dorsiflexion and plantar flexion) were taken on 42 of these patients (including both feet of 7 patients). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intratester reliability ranged from .74 to .90 for ankle and STJ measurements. The ICCs for intertester reliability were .25 for measuring the STJN position, .32 for STJ inversion, and .17 for SJJ eversion. The ICCs for intertester reliability were .50 for ankle dorsiflexion and .72 for ankle plantar flexion. Goniometric measurements of the STJN position and of PROM of the ankle and STJ appear to be moderately reliable if taken by the same therapist over a short period of time. With the exception of ankle plantar flexion, these measurements cannot be considered to be reliable between therapists.

Treatment of osteochondral defects of the talus

“…Th e interobserver reliability of plantarfl exion measurement in another study was good (ICC, 0.72), although the measurement technique in that study was not specifi cally described. 119 Although clinical plantar fl exion was an independent predictor of the arthroscopic reach ( Figure 6), joint laxity, in contrast to our hypothesis, was not. Th erefore, the arthroscopic reach variability cannot be reliably correlated with ankle laxity.…”

Achilles Pain, Stiffness, and Muscle Power Deficits: Achilles Tendinitis

“…29 Intratester reliability (ICC) for inversion without reference to the subtalar joint neutral position for all subjects was 0.74 and 0.79 for those with orthopedic diagnoses. Similarly, eversion values for all subjects were 0.75 and 0.78 for those with orthopaedic diagnoses.…”

“…Intertester reliability of passive subtalar joint inversion and eversion in this same cohort were poor with values of 0.32 and 0.17. 29 Other research studies, 1 completed using a patient sample 122 and the other examining healthy subjects 131 …”

Sagittal plane blockage of the foot, ankle and hallux and foot alignment-prevalence and association with low back pain

“…6,7,8,9,10 Measurements performed included weight-bearing ankle range of motion (ROM), weight-bearing hallux ROM and difference in navicular height between resting and neutral standing postures using the navicular drop test (NDT) to determine flat feet or foot alignment. All measurements were taken three times and the mean recorded.…”