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Wrist ROM measurements using smartphone photography: Reliability and validity
1Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20, West Temple Road, 226001 Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
Hand Surgery & Rehabilitation
|March 16, 2020
Summary
Smartphone photography offers a reliable and valid method for measuring wrist range of motion (ROM) in patients. This technique accurately assesses active wrist ROM, comparable to traditional goniometry.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Medical Imaging
- Biomechanical Measurement
Background:
- Measuring active wrist range of motion (ROM) using smartphone images in patients remains unvalidated.
- The impact of pathological factors on the accuracy of smartphone-based ROM measurement is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reliability and validity of smartphone photography for measuring wrist joint ROM compared to manual goniometry.
Main Methods:
- 38 patients with injured wrists had digital photos taken at extremes of motion (flexion, extension, radial/ulnar deviation).
- Smartphone measurements were compared to handheld goniometry using Student's t test, Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman analysis.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was found between manual goniometry and smartphone photo measurements for wrist ROM.
- High Pearson correlation coefficients (mostly >0.8) indicated a strong relationship between the two methods.
- Smartphone measurements demonstrated high precision, reliability, and interobserver agreement.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone photography is a reliable and valid tool for measuring wrist joint ROM in clinical settings.
- This accessible measurement method can be effectively utilized for patient outcome assessment.
