Reliability of knee joint position sense measurement: a comparison between goniometry and image capture methods

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intrarater and interrater reliability of handheld goniometry compared to image capture (IMC) in the assessment of joint position sense (JPS) in healthy participants. A repeated-measures observational study was undertaken with 36 asymptomatic university students of both genders aged 18–45 years. JPS in the knee was assessed by two assessors over two sessions (1 week interval) using handheld goniometry and IMC methods. JPS was assessed at four target knee flexion angles. Intrarater and interrater reliability was assessed with absolute error (AE), relative error (RE) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Interrater reliability for goniometry was poor to substantial (ICC 0.00 to 0.64) and for IMC was poor to moderate (ICC 0.00 to 0.47). Intrarater reliability for goniometry was poor to moderate (ICC 0.00 to 0.42) and for IMC was poor to moderate (ICC 0.00 to 0.41). AE for goniometry ranged from 3.2° to 8.6° and RE from 0.1° to –8.3°. AE for IMC ranged from 5.3° to 12.5° and RE from 0.1° to 11.1°. Neither goniometry nor IMC appeared to be superior to the other in JPS assessment. Caution should be applied when considering the reliability of goniometry and IMC before making a clinical assessment.

Keywords:

• Angle
• knee
• measurement
• proprioception
• range of motion

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The study received no financial support.