Intra and interrater reliability for lower limb flexibility assessment using photogrammetry.

INTRODUCTION: Photogrammetry represents an advancement in the flexibility evaluation, and although it was highly explored for postural assessment, there is a scarcity of studies analyzing lower limb angular measurements using it. The purpose of this study is to verify the reliability of intrarater and interrarater photogrammetry in assessing lower limb flexibility. METHODS: This was a randomized cross-sectional observational study with test-retest design and a two-day interval. Thirty healthy, physically active adults were included. Three novice raters assessed the participants through flexibility tests of iliopsoas, hamstring, quadriceps and gastrocnemius on two occasions, and independently analyzed the captured images to establish reliability. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated. RESULTS: Intrarater reliability was excellent for iliopsoas (ICC = 0.96; SEM = 1.4; MDC = 3.8), hamstring (ICC = 0.99; SEM = 1.1; MDC = 3.1), quadriceps (ICC = 0.99; SEM = 0.8; MDC = 2.3) and gastrocnemius (ICC = 0.98; SEM = 0.9; MDC = 2.5). Interrater reliability was excellent for iliopsoas (ICC = 0.94; SEM = 1.7; MDC = 4.6) and gastrocnemius (ICC = 0.91; SEM = 2.1; MDC = 5.8), but good for hamstring (ICC = 0.90; SEM = 2.8; MDC = 7.9) and quadriceps (ICC = 0.85; SEM = 3.0; MDC = 8.3). CONCLUSIONS: The excellent intrarater and good to excellent interrater reliability suggest that photogrammetry assessment of lower limb flexibility by novice raters is reliable. However, clinicians should consider the higher threshold of range of motion change necessary to outweigh measurement error due to interrater variability.

Questionnaires for knee instability assessment in people with anterior cruciate ligament injury: a systematic review of original questionnaires and their translated versions.

Purpose: To verify the quality of questionnaires/scales regarding knee instability caused by anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insufficiency and their translated versions.Materials and methods: Searches were conducted on Web of Science, Pubmed, Medline, Cinahl, and SportDiscuss. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of Health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) scale was used to assess the article's quality; and the measurement properties of each questionnaire/scale were also analysed.Results: Searches identified 7703 studies and 29 were included in this review. Nine were articles reporting the original development of a questionnaire/scale and 20 were translations. The original questionnaires/scales were written in English or French and were translated into Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, Dutch, Turkish, German, Korean, Italian, Arabic, Polish, French, and Chinese. The questionnaires/scales with best overall quality were the Cincinatti Knee Rating System, the International Knee Documentation Committee - Subjective Knee Form and the PPLP. The International Knee Documentation Committee had positive results for internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.89-0.92); for reliability and agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) ranging from 0.88 to 0.99); and for construct validity (Pearson's r ranged from 0.1 to 0.85).Conclusions: The International Knee Documentation Committee had the largest number of translated versions and it was considered the best instrument assessed. Furthermore, The International Knee Documentation Committee was considered to be easy to apply, short and accessible, thus it is the choice of several clinicians and researchers.Implications for rehabilitationKnee instability is one of the most important factors to be evaluated during rehabilitation of people with anterior cruciate ligament injury in both surgical and non-surgical approach.The use of questionnaires may provide a better overall functionality assessment of people with knee instability from ACL injury.To choose the most appropriate questionnaire, clinicians should consider their needs and should consider validated questionnaires linked with adequate psychometric properties which guarantee the original characteristics of a questionnaire and also guarantee reliable results.

Reliability of muscle strength assessment in chronic post-stroke hemiparesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Muscle weakness is the main cause of motor impairment among stroke survivors and is associated with reduced peak muscle torque. OBJECTIVE: To systematically investigate and organize the evidence of the reliability of muscle strength evaluation measures in post-stroke survivors with chronic hemiparesis. DATA SOURCES: Two assessors independently searched four electronic databases in January 2014 (Medline, Scielo, CINAHL, Embase). STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria comprised studies on reliability on muscle strength assessment in adult post-stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis. DATA EXTRACTION: We extracted outcomes from included studies about reliability data, measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and/or similar. The meta-analyses were conducted only with isokinetic data. RESULTS: Of 450 articles, eight articles were included for this review. After quality analysis, two studies were considered of high quality. Five different joints were analyzed within the included studies (knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, and elbow). Their reliability results varying from low to very high reliability (ICCs from 0.48 to 0.99). Results of meta-analysis for knee extension varying from high to very high reliability (pooled ICCs from 0.89 to 0.97), for knee flexion varying from high to very high reliability (pooled ICCs from 0.84 to 0.91) and for ankle plantar flexion showed high reliability (pooled ICC = 0.85). CONCLUSION: Objective muscle strength assessment can be reliably used in lower and upper extremities in post-stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis.