Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Reliability of thumb web measurements
Prashant M Murugkar1, J Wim Brandsma, A M Anderson
1Physiotherapy Department, Green Pastures Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre, Pokhara, Nepal. murugkar@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Two new methods of thumb web space measurement, the intermetacarpal distance (IMD) and the derived intermetacarpal angle (DIMA), were proposed and compared with a conventional method for interrater reliability. Forty subjects (22 normal hands, 18 impaired hands) were measured. Reliability of the measurement was estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland and Altman method of 95% limits of agreement. Overall, the IMD method showed an ICC of 0.88 with 95% limits of agreement of -6.9 to 5.6 mm (approximately +/-6.2 mm). Similarly, for the DIMA method, the ICC was 0.47 with 95% limits of agreement of -11.9 to 5.1 degrees (approximately +/-8.5 degrees ). The IMD method appears more reliable than the conventional method, which had an ICC of 0.26 and 95% limits of agreement of -17.5 to 9.2 degrees (approximately +/-13.3 degrees ). The IMD method is recommended as a reliable method of measuring the thumb web space.
Related Concept Videos
Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision
Adjusting a Traverse
Uncertainty in Measurement: Reading Instruments
Errors in Taping
Distance Corrections
Distance Measurements by Taping

