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RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE HALO DIGITAL GONIOMETER FOR SHOULDER RANGE OF MOTION IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS
Sarah Correll1, Jennifer Field2, Heather Hutchinson3
1Breakthrough Physical Therapy, Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
|August 25, 2018
Summary
The laser-guided digital goniometer (HALO) shows good reliability and validity for measuring shoulder range of motion (ROM) in healthy individuals. However, it should not replace the universal goniometer for tracking changes in a single patient over time.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physical Therapy
- Biomechanical Measurement
Background:
- Shoulder range of motion (ROM) assessment is crucial for musculoskeletal impairments.
- The universal goniometer (UG) is standard but has limitations.
- Novel devices like digital goniometers offer potential improvements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of a laser-guided digital goniometer (HALO).
- To determine the concurrent validity of the HALO against the UG for shoulder ROM.
- To assess the measurement accuracy of the HALO device.
Main Methods:
- Healthy volunteers (18-75 years) without shoulder issues were recruited.
- Active shoulder flexion, abduction, internal, and external rotation were measured using HALO and UG.
- Two evaluators performed two measurements per shoulder with each device.
- Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for reliability and agreement.
Main Results:
- Intra-rater reliability for HALO ranged from 0.82-0.91; for UG, 0.83-0.95.
- Inter-rater reliability for HALO was 0.89-0.98; for UG, 0.90-0.98.
- Agreement between HALO and UG (ICCs) ranged from 0.79-0.99.
Conclusions:
- The HALO digital goniometer is a reliable and valid tool for measuring shoulder ROM in healthy shoulders.
- The HALO demonstrates strong reliability and validity compared to the UG.
- The devices should not be used interchangeably for longitudinal assessment of individuals.
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