Reliability of the weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion measurement using a smartphone goniometer application

Žunko, Helena (author), Vauhnik, Renata (author)

Background. Weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion measurement (weight-bearing lunge test) is gaining in popularity because it mimics lower extremity function in daily physical activities. The purpose of the study is to assess the intrarater and the inter-rater reliability of the weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion measurement with a flexed knee using a smartphone application Spirit Level Plus installed on an Android smartphone. Methods. Thirty-two young, healthy subjects participated in the study and were measured in four sessions by two examiners. One measurement was taken on each ankle in every session. Eight measurements were taken from each participant. A total of 256 were taken from all the participants. The measurements for the individual subject were repeated no sooner than 24 hours after the first session. In order to assess the reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error measurements (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) at the 95% confidence interval were calculated. Results. Statistical data analysis revealed moderate intra-rater reliability for the right ankle (ICC = 0.72, 95% CI [0.49–0.85]) and good intra-rater reliability for the left ankle (ICC = 0.82, 95% CI [0.66–0.91]). Inter-rater reliability is moderate for the right (ICC = 0.73, 95% CI [0.52–0.86]) and the left ankle (ICC = 0.65, 95% CI [0.39–0.81]). Conclusion. The observed method is moderately reliable and appropriate when the main objective is to assess ankle dorsiflexion mobility in weight-bearing when weight-bearing is not contraindicated. The concurrent validity of the Spirit Level Plus application is excellent.

• Language: English
• Keywords: ankle, range of motion, reliability, weight-bearing lunge, smartphone goniometer application
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty; ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 1-13
• Numbering: Vol. 9
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-131185
• UDC: 615.8:004.382.745
• ISSN on article: 2167-8359
• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11977
• COBISS.SI-ID: 77547011
• Publication date in RUL: 23.09.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: PeerJ
• Shortened title: PeerJ
• Publisher: PeerJ Inc.
• ISSN: 2167-8359
• COBISS.SI-ID: 31891929

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 22.09.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Undetermined
• Keywords: gleženj, obseg gibanja, zanesljivost, udarci z nosilnostjo, aplikacija goniometer, pametni telefon

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P3-0388
• Name: Mehanizmi varovanja zdravja