Reliability of a digital-photographic-goniometric method for coronal-plane lower limb measurements.
BACKGROUND
Structural and coronal-plane-alignment characteristics of the lower limb are frequently cited as factors contributing to knee pathologies.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and reliability characteristics of a digital-photographic-goniometric method (DPGM) of measurement for 2-dimensional (2D) coronal-plane lower limb measurements of the quadriceps (Q) angle, tibiofemoral (TF) angle, and femur length in human participants adopting a self-selected- or Romberg-stance position.


METHODS
Reliability study.


METHODS
University motion-analysis laboratory.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 20 healthy young adult men and women.


METHODS
Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), 95% confidence intervals, and standard error of the measurements.


RESULTS
Intratester- and intertester-reliability coefficients for the Q angle (ICCs .458-.845 and .257-.737) were consistently lower than those for the TF angle (ICCs .627-.904 and .700-.839) or femur length (ICCs .867-.958 and .866-.944). Q angles were also significantly larger (13.4%) in the Romberg- vs self-selected-stance position (P < .001) and larger (20.2%) in the left limb than the right limb.


CONCLUSIONS
The DPGM has the potential to produce accurate and reliable measurements of selected 2D lower limb measures. However, the reliability characteristics depend on the ability of the testers to correctly and repeatably landmark the anatomical sites used to define the measurements of interest and might be influenced by other factors such as the stance position adopted, the complexity of the variable (ie, number of anatomical landmarks and segments), and the size of the captured image. Further investigation of these latter factors is warranted.
Moncrieff
Matthew J
MJ
School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Livingston
Lori A
LA
D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007867:Leg Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012494:Sampling Studies; D055815:Young Adult