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Inter and intra-rater reliability of the scoliometer
Guilherme H Bonagamba1, Daniel M Coelho, Anamaria S de Oliveira
1Course Physical Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
Revista Brasileira De Fisioterapia (Sao Carlos (Sao Paulo, Brazil))
|November 5, 2010
Summary
The scoliometer shows excellent intra-rater reliability for measuring trunk rotation in scoliosis patients. Inter-rater reliability is good to excellent, though slightly lower in the upper thorax.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Biomechanical analysis
- Medical device evaluation
Background:
- The scoliometer is used to assess trunk axial rotation in idiopathic scoliosis patients.
- Concerns exist regarding the reliability of scoliometer measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the scoliometer in individuals with scoliosis.
Main Methods:
- 24 idiopathic scoliosis patients (18 ± 4 years) with average 24.8 ± 12.7º Cobb curves participated.
- Two trained examiners performed measurements on the same day, assessing thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
- Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC1,1 for intra-rater, ICC3,1 for inter-rater) was used for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- Intra-rater reliability was very good to excellent for the mid-thorax, lower-thorax, and lumbar spine.
- Inter-rater reliability was good for the upper thorax and excellent for the mid-thorax, lower-thorax, and lumbar spine.
Conclusions:
- The scoliometer demonstrates strong intra-rater reliability across multiple spinal segments.
- While generally good, inter-rater reliability for the upper and lower thorax and lumbar spine is somewhat lower than intra-rater reliability, even with controlled palpation and positioning errors.
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