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Cervical joint position sense: an intra- and inter-examiner reliability study
Nikolaos Strimpakos1, Vasiliki Sakellari, Georgios Gioftsos
1Centre for Rehabilitation Science, University of Manchester, Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospital's NHS Trust, Oxford Road, M13 9WL Manchester, UK. nikstrimp@teilam.gr
Gait & Posture
|November 29, 2005
Summary
This study found that measuring neck joint position sense using a 3D ultrasound device is unreliable for different head movements. Further research is needed to determine if these tests are clinically acceptable.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Kinesiology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Joint position sense (JPS) is crucial for motor control and proprioception.
- Accurate measurement of cervical JPS is essential for diagnosing and managing neck conditions.
- Current methods for assessing cervical JPS may have limitations in reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the intra- and inter-examiner reliability of neck active joint position sense (JPS) measurements.
- To assess reliability across various head movements (flexion, rotation, side flexion) and initial positions (sitting, standing).
- To determine the accuracy and consistency of a 3D ultrasound-based motion analysis device for cervical JPS assessment.
Main Methods:
- Participants actively reproduced target head angles in sitting and standing positions using a 3D ultrasound device.
- Intra-examiner reliability was assessed through three tests, and inter-examiner reliability involved two examiners.
- Absolute error (AE) and variable error (VE) were used to measure repositioning accuracy, with ICC, SEM, and SDD indices calculated.
Main Results:
- Both AE and VE showed poor to moderate Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) across all movements and positions.
- AE generally had higher ICC estimates than VE, though Smallest Detectable Difference (SDD) values were similar.
- The standing position demonstrated slightly better ICCs for AE, while VE indicated greater reliability in the standing position compared to sitting. Inter-examiner results mirrored intra-examiner findings.
Conclusions:
- The employed method for measuring cervical JPS demonstrated unreliable results.
- The statistical analysis indicated poor to moderate reliability, suggesting potential limitations for clinical application.
- Further research is recommended to explore the discriminatory power and clinical acceptability of these cervical JPS measurement tests.