[Reliability of active range-of-motion measurement of the rotation in the forearm: comparison of three measurement devices].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to prove the intra- and interobserver reliability of three different methods to measure the active range-of-motion in the forearm.


METHODS
These three different methods were tested on forty volunteers. In the first method pictures were made in full supination and pronation, measurement of the two angles was performed with a dedicated software. Active range-of-motion was defined as the magnitude of forearm rotation between maximum pronation and supination. The second method used a standard goniometer. The third method of assessment used a gravity goniometer (plurimeter). We randomised both the side of the patient to be examined and the sequence of the methods. Two examiners measured subsequently the range-of-motion twice with these three devices.


RESULTS
We found a significant intraobserver reproducibility with the gravity goniometer. There was no significance with the goniometer or pictures. The intraobserver reproducibility of the latter two methods was poor. The interobserver reproducibility of the gravity goniometer and pictures was significant, for the goniometer it was poor. Agreement between the pictures and gravity goniometer assessment of the range-of-motion was good. None of these two methods was significantly correlated with the goniometer assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
For reproducibility of measurement of range-of-motion in the forearm the gravity goniometer is the best method, although the measured values were 5 % greater.
Urban
V
V
Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Balgrist, Zürich, Schweiz, Germany.
Kalberer
F
F
Roos
M
M
Dumont
C E
CE
D000328:Adult; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D011403:Pronation / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D013484:Supination / Q000502:physiology; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000502:physiology*