Reliability of Lower Extremity Girth Measurements and Right- and Left-Side Differences

Abstract

The purpose of this two-part study was to determine if lower extremity girth measurements are repeatable. Sixteen males and 14 females participated in the intra- and intertester reliability portion of this study. Girth was assessed at five different lower extremity sites by two physical therapists using a standard tape measure. Thirty measures (15 by each examiner) were collected on the subject's right leg, and a mean of the three measures was used in the analysis. The measurements were repeated 7 days later. It was found that by using a simple standardized procedure, girth measurements in the clinic can be highly repeatable in experienced clinicians. Part 2 of the study involved testing the right and left legs of 22 subjects to determine if girth of the right and left legs was similar. All subjects had their girth assessed at five sites on their right and left legs during one session. It was found that girth measures on the right and left lower extremities are comparable. In an acutely injured lower extremity, it might be assumed that the girth of both lower extremities is similar.

Thigh and Calf Girth Following Knee Injury and Surgery

“…Therefore, we do not know if girth measurement differences existed prior to injury or the effect of extremity dominance on thigh and calf girth. However, Whitney et al (20) determined that girth measures of the thigh and calf are equal between extremities in subjects without history of lower extremity pathology.…”

Society of Interventional Radiology Reporting Standards for Thoracic Central Vein Obstruction: Endorsed by the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN), British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR), Canadian Interventional Radiology Association (CIRA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Indian Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (ISVIR), Vascular Access Society of the Americas (VASA), and Vascular Access Society of Britain and Ireland (VASBI)

“…The reproducibility and usefulness of performing circumference measurements has been reported for lower extremity swelling. 70,71 Therefore, the CVWG believes all future reporting of TCVO-related swelling should include circumferential measurements.…”

Society of Interventional Radiology Reporting Standards for Thoracic Central Vein Obstruction

“…Swelling of an arm can be easily measured by measuring circumference using minimal equipment (ie, tape measure) and relatively modest additional examination time. The reproducibility and usefulness of performing circumference measurements has been reported for lower-extremity swelling (70,71). Therefore, the CVWG believes all future reporting of TCVO-related swelling should include circumferential measurements.…”