Agreement Between a Wireless Sleeve and a Goniometer in Measuring Elbow and Knee Range of Motion

Introduction Goniometers are a common clinical tool for measuring joint range of motion. Wearable sleeves offer a novel and alternative method to measure joint angles, record range of motion (ROM), and remotely track changes in ROM over time. Additionally, they may aid in the surgical planning required for deformity correction. This investigation compared the reliability and validity of a conventional goniometer to a novel transducer-embedded sleeve when measuring flexion and extension of the elbow and knee. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 55 patients (110 elbows, 110 knees) who donned an elbow and knee sleeve embedded with a gallium-based strain sensor. Flexion and extension of the elbow and knee were measured both manually using a goniometer and a wearable sleeve. Agreement between the two devices was assessed via Bland-Altman plots. Results Regarding elbow flexion, the bias observed between the two devices was 4.6° with LoA spanning from -14.9° to 24.1°. Regarding elbow extension, the bias observed between the two devices was -9.8° with LoA spanning from -25.6° to 6.0°. Regarding knee flexion, the bias observed between the two devices was -4.6° with LoA spanning from -35.6° to 26.4°. Regarding knee extension, the bias observed between the two devices was -2.8° with LoA spanning from -8.9° to 3.3°. Conclusion Wearable sleeves show promise for clinical ROM measurement and remote monitoring but require further refinement to reduce bias before clinical application.