INTRA-RATER RELIABILITIES AND CONCURRENT VALIDITY OF THE UNIVERSAL GONIOMETER AND TAPE MEASURE FOR MEASURING CERVICAL ACTIVE RANGE OF MOTION

Abstract

Background Data: Cervical active range of motion (cervical AROM) is often assessed in clinical practice to quantify musculoskeletal impairments of the neck and evaluate efficacy of interventions. Such assessment requires instruments with proven reliability and validity. Purpose: To investigate and compare the intra-rater reliabilities and concurrent validity of the universal goniometer and tape measure in measuring cervical AROM. Methods: Cervical AROM in 100 consecutively sampled apparently healthy individuals was measured with both universal goniometer and tape measure and repeated after five days. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, standard error of measurement, Pearson product moment correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) at 0.05 level of significance. Results: Intra-rater reliability of the tape measure (r = 0.28–0.62; ICC = 0.44–0.75) and universal goniometer (r = 0.21–0.67; ICC = 0.34–0.79) were within the acceptable range except for right lateral flexion for goniometer and left lateral flexion for tape measure. Standard errors of measurement were 0.14–0.20 and 0.76–1.27 for tape measure and goniometer, respectively. Concurrent validity coefficients of the two instruments for all cervical AROM (r = 0.23–0.40) except left lateral flexion and right rotation were within the acceptable range. There was no gender difference in cervical AROM using the goniometer but male participants had significantly more range in flexion and right lateral flexion using the tape measure. Conclusions: Tape measure and goniometer have similar intra-rater reliability and significant but weak concurrent validity in assessing cervical AROM except left lateral flexion and right rotation.