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Thoracoabdominal mobility evaluation of asthmatic patients in physiotherapy practice: Intra-rater reliability
Flávia R Caruso1, Renata Trimer2, Cassia da Luz Goulart1
1Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory, Physiotherapy Department, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Background:
The evaluation of thoracoabdominal mobility is a tool extensively used in the physiotherapy practice in different populations. Photogrammetry may be a simple tool to analyse thoracoabdominal mobility; however, it is unclear whether this assessment can be a reliable method.
Aim:
To test the reliability intra-examinator by photogrammetry in asthmatic patients and in health controls.
Methods:
Twenty-six asthmatic patients (29 ± 9 years) and 14 healthy matched controls (27 ± 8 years) were assessed by thoracoabdominal mobility. Photographs during rest, during inspiration and expiration maximum were used to calculate latero-lateral and antero-posterior diameters of the thorax (at axillary and xiphoid levels) and umbilical by markers positioned in osseous structures. An evaluator obtained the same measurements in an 8-day interval.
Results:
We found a moderate reliability for axillary, xiphoid and umbilical mobility (average intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] respectively [0.68, 0.55 and 0.73]) for asthmatic group. In addition, for control group, we found a moderate reliability for axillary mobility (average ICC respectively [0.68] and a good reliability for xiphoid and umbilical mobility) (average ICC 0.81 and 0.70). Bland-Altman plots showed goods limit of agreement in photos 1 and 2 in both groups.
Conclusion:
The photogrammetric analysis of thoracoabdominal mobility presented itself as a reliable method and may be used in clinical practice in asthmatic patients and in controls.
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