Reliability of spinal range of motion in healthy boys using a skin-surface device.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the interrater and intrarater reliability of spinal extension and flexion measurements using a skin-surface (Spinal Mouse; Idiag, Voletswil, Switzerland) instrument.


METHODS
Spinal curvature was measured during standing, full flexion, and full extension in 81 healthy children (10.6 +/- 1.7 years) by 3 raters on 2 separate occasions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and standard errors of measurement were used to examine between-day and interrater reliability for thoracic, lumbar, and hip range of motion.


RESULTS
The intrarater ICCs ranged from 0.61 to 0.96, and the interrater ICCs ranged from 0.70 to 0.93. The standard error of measurement ranged from 0.61 degrees to 13.18 degrees .


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of spinal range of motion measures in children using the Spinal Mouse demonstrates fair to high reliability.
Kellis
Eleftherios
E
Department of Physical Education and Sports and Sciences at Serres, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Control and Therapeutic Exercise, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece. ekellis@phed-sr.auth.gr
Adamou
Grigoris
G
Tzilios
Gerasimos
G
Emmanouilidou
Maria
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015982:Bias; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D015588:Observer Variation; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012984:Software; D013121:Spinal Curvatures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D013686:Telemetry; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging