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Intra-Rater, Inter-Rater, and Test-Retest Reliability of a Laser- and Inclinometer-Based Hip Joint Position Sense
Joévin Burnel1,2, Benoit Vallee3, Benoit Pairot de Fontenay4,5,6,7
1Research Unit in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium.
Muscles (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 25, 2026
Summary
A new laser and inclinometer protocol shows moderate reliability for assessing hip joint position sense (JPS) in healthy adults. While rotational movements demonstrated good precision, further validation is needed for clinical application.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Hip joint position sense (JPS) is crucial for neuromuscular function but lacks standardized assessment protocols.
- Muscle spindles and periarticular mechanoreceptors are key sensory inputs for proprioception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of a novel laser- and inclinometer-based active hip JPS protocol.
- To establish preliminary reference values for hip JPS in healthy adults.
Main Methods:
- A two-phase reliability study involving 17 (reliability) and 57 (reference values) healthy adults.
- Six hip movement directions (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial/lateral rotation) were assessed.
- Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), SEM%, and MDC95% were used to quantify reliability and measurement error.
Main Results:
- Intra-rater reliability ranged from poor to moderate (ICC=0.64 for medial rotation).
- Inter-rater reliability improved across sessions, peaking at ICC=0.78 for medial rotation.
- Rotational movements showed high precision (SEM% 3-6%), while flexion/extension had larger errors.
Conclusions:
- The developed protocol demonstrates clinically acceptable measurement precision for hip rotational JPS.
- The protocol provides preliminary reference values but requires further validation before widespread clinical use.
- Sagittal and frontal plane assessments using this laser-based method require further investigation.
