title: The reliability of a simplified water displacement instrument: a method for measuring arm volume.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a new water displacement measurement, the Simplified Water Displacement Instrument (SWDI), and to evaluate its intra- and intertester reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reliability design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six healthy people were studied. Intratester reliability was evaluated once a week for 4 weeks in 20 women and 10 men. Intertester reliability was assessed by 2 physical therapists in 26 people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Coefficients of variation (CVs) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intratester reliability showed a CV range of 2.2% to 2.6% and an ICC range of .98 to .99. The intertester reliability showed a CV of 1.3% and an ICC of .99. There was a significant increase in arm volume in men compared with women. There were no significant differences in changes in volume over the 4 weeks. There was a significant greater right arm volume (3.3%) among the right-handed subjects (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both intra- and intertester reliability were satisfactory for the SWDI.
authors.affiliation: Ulevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. aase.sagen@ulleval.no
authors.forename: Ase
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sagen
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kåresen
authors.forename: May Arna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Risberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water