Reliability of Inclinometer-Derived Passive Range of Motion Measures in Youth with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Aims: This study evaluated, for youth with cerebral palsy (CP), the reliability of passive range of motion (PROM) measures taken with an inclinometer, a device that may be simpler to use than a goniometer. Methods: The PROM for elbow and wrist extension, ankle dorsal flexion (knee flexed 90° and fully extended), and the knee popliteal angle of 30 youth with CP (18 boys, 12 girls, 7.0 ± 3.8 years old, classified in Gross Motor Function Classification levels I–V) was measured using an inclinometer. Two physical therapists took the measures during two different sessions, a maximum of 1 week apart. Results: Good mean intra-rater inter-session, inter-rater intra-session, and inter-rater inter-session reliability (ICC = 0.75–0.89), was found for the elbow, ankle, and knee sites. Absolute reliability for these sites and conditions was 7–14° (90% confident) and 10–16° (95% confident). Reliability values for wrist extension were comparable, albeit slight lower. Conclusions: Similar to published values for goniometry, inclinometery yields reliable upper and lower limb PROM measures from ambulatory and non-ambulatory youth with CP whether measures are carried out by different evaluators within or across sessions or whether measures are performed by the same evaluator across sessions.

Keywords:

• Cerebral palsy
• inclinometer
• range of motion
• reliability

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the youth and their families for their participation in this study. We would also like to thank the physical therapists from the Center Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale for their assistance with data collection and the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration for statistical analysis support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by a grant from the Center Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale.

Notes on contributors

Désirée B. Maltais

Désirée B. Maltais, PhD, PT is an Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and a Researcher at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Chantal Ferland

Chantal Ferland, MSc, PT is a Physical Therapist at the Centre Integre Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Marc Perron

Marc Perron, MSc, PT, is a Planning, Programming and Research Officer for the Directorate of Education and University Affairs, Centre Integre Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Jean-Sébastien Roy

Jean-Sébastien Roy is an Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and a Researcher at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.