Validation of Joint Position Sense of Dorsi-Plantar Flexion of Ankle Measurements Using a Smartphone

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study evaluated and validated the reliability of smartphones as measuring equipment for the dorsi-plantar flexion of ankle joint position sense (JPS) ability.MethodsThe subjects were 20 healthy young students in their 20s. We confirmed the concurrent validity by comparison with existing electrogoniometer data. The reliability of the smartphone was confirmed using the test-retest method.ResultsIn the case of dorsiflexion, there was no significant difference between the smartphone and electrogoniometer groups (p > 0.05). Regarding the correlation, it was significantly high (r = 0.65, p < 0.05), and ICC(3,1) was good (ICC(3,1) = 0.79). For the case of plantar flexion, there was no significant difference between the smartphone and electrogoniometer groups (p > 0.05), the correlation was significantly high (r = 0.69, p < 0.05), and the ICC(3,1) was very good (ICC(3,1) = 0.82). In the case of dorsiflexion, there was no significant difference between test and retest (p > 0.05), the correlation was intermediate (r = 0.59, p < 0.05), and the ICC(3,1) value was good (ICC(3,1) = 0.74). For plantar flexion, there was no significant difference between test and retest (p > 0.05), the correlation was significantly high (r = 0.63, p < 0.05), and the ICC(3,1) was good (ICC(3,1) = 0.76).ConclusionsThe results showed that smartphones provide high validity and reliability as measurement equipment for JPS of dorsi-plantar flexion of the ankle. Finally, the study also considers that smartphone-based JPS measuring methods may replace the traditional and expensive methods that are currently being used for the same purpose.

Assessment of human motion using smartphone sensors: a tutorial for education, research and practice (Preprint)

“…Smartphone sensors can characterize the orientation of the device in space. Smartphones have been used to estimate human motion in several studies, including range of motion in static and dynamic tasks [28][29][30], proprioception estimated as joint position error [31,32], and dynamic balance [33].…”

Test–Retest Reliability of an iPhone® Inclinometer Application to Assess the Lumbar Joint Repositioning Error in Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain

“…Since this test evaluates the capability to recognize and reproduce lumbar spine positions, it often requires the time-consuming task of analysing images through specific software and/or sophisticated instruments such as an isokinetic dynamometer, inertial sensors, an electrogoniometer, or photo-analysis (high-resolution camera) to monitor proprioceptive deficits in people with NSCLBP [ 14 , 34 ]. Although these types of measuring equipment are reliable and valid, they are not portable and their installation is time-consuming [ 35 ]. For this reason, some authors have designed and validated methods to quickly and easily obtain proprioceptive errors by developing smartphone applications based on the inclinometer integrated into smartphones [ 14 , 35 ].…”

“…Although these types of measuring equipment are reliable and valid, they are not portable and their installation is time-consuming [ 35 ]. For this reason, some authors have designed and validated methods to quickly and easily obtain proprioceptive errors by developing smartphone applications based on the inclinometer integrated into smartphones [ 14 , 35 ]. For measurement, the iPhone ® has been used as an inclinometer in other populations and their reliability has been evaluated for mobility on people with cervical spine [ 36 , 37 ], lumbar spine [ 38 , 39 , 40 ], and thoracic spine [ 41 ] pathologies; standing lumbar lordosis [ 42 ]; ankle dorsiflexion [ 43 , 44 ] and inter-limb asymmetries [ 44 ]; active wrist range of motion in asymptomatic subjects [ 45 ].…”

Reliability test of smartphone-based leg-joint position-sense measurement in people of all ages

“…In the future, clinical studies will increasingly use smartphones, and measurement using smartphones is anticipated to be widely applied in physical therapy and all medical fields. 18) However, currently, there are insufficient position sense tests of joints using smartphones. In response, the present study was conducted using smartphones to investigate the agreement and relevancy in position-sense measurement of each leg joint in subjects of various ages.…”