Related Experiment Videos
Comparison of two methods used to assess first-ray mobility
Ward M Glasoe1, Mary K Allen, Charles L Saltzman
1Staff Physical Therapist, Research Therapist, Physiotherapy Associates, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, USA. Ward.Glasoe@physio.strykercorp.com
Foot & Ankle International
|April 6, 2002
Summary
Clinical assessment of first-ray mobility lacks reliability and validity. Manual grading showed poor interrater agreement and did not correlate with mechanical device measurements, questioning its clinical utility.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Orthopedics
- Clinical Measurement
Background:
- First-ray mobility is linked to various lower extremity conditions.
- The clinical measurement's reliability and validity are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity and reliability of manual first-ray mobility assessment.
- To compare manual grading with objective mechanical measurements.
Main Methods:
- Manual assessment involved stabilizing lesser metatarsals and applying force to the first metatarsal head.
- Mobility was graded manually (stiff, normal, hypermobile).
- A validated mechanical device measured dorsal mobility; both methods were repeated for reliability.
Main Results:
- Manual assessment showed moderate intrarater reliability (kappa 0.50-0.85) but poor interrater agreement (0.09-0.16).
- Manual grading did not correlate with mechanical device measurements (r = -0.21).
Conclusions:
- Manual estimation of first-ray mobility demonstrates questionable validity and reliability.
- Clinical utility of manual first-ray mobility assessment requires further investigation.