title: Reliability of a computer software angle tool for measuring spine and pelvic flexibility during the sit-and-reach test.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of a computer software angle tool that measures thoracic (T), lumbar (L), and pelvic (P) angles as a means of evaluating spine and pelvic flexibility during the sit-and-reach (SR) test. Thirty adults performed the SR twice on separate days. The SR test was captured on video and later analyzed for T, L, and P angles using the computer software angle tool. During the test, 3 markers were placed over T1, T12, and L5 vertebrae to identify T, L, and P angles. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) indicated a very high internal consistency (between trials) for T, L, and P angles (0.95-0.99); thus, the average of trials was used for test-retest (between days) reliability. Mean (±SD) values did not differ between days for T (51.0 ± 14.3 vs. 52.3 ± 16.2°), L (23.9 ± 7.1 vs. 23.0 ± 6.9°), or P (98.4 ± 15.6 vs. 98.3 ± 14.7°) angles. Test-retest reliability (ICC) was high for T (0.96) and P (0.97) angles and moderate for L angle (0.84). Both intrarater and interrater reliabilities were high for T (0.95, 0.94) and P (0.97, 0.97) angles and moderate for L angle (0.87, 0.82). Thus, the computer software angle tool is a highly objective method for assessing spine and pelvic flexibility during a video-captured SR test.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida, USA. cmier@mail.barry.edu
authors.forename: Constance M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mier
authors.forename: Belinda S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult