title: Reliability of hip internal rotation range of motion measurement using a digital inclinometer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of hip internal rotation (IR) is a critical element in the evaluation of a painful hip, yet there currently exists no consistent method of determining this measurement. The purpose of this study is to report the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of active and passive hip IR measurement using a digital inclinometer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five subjects (8 men, 17 women) with asymptomatic hip joints, and no known pathology between the ages of 22 and 42 participated. Two examiners measured hip IR for each subject using a digital inclinometer while visually monitoring pelvic motion. Measurements included passive IR, active IR, and active IR while internally rotating both legs simultaneously. Statistical analysis was performed including intra-rater and inter-rater reliability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in measured IR values. Mean range of motion values for all techniques and both examiners ranged from 30.7° to 32.8°. Intra-rater reliability for examiner 1 ranged from 0.84 to 0.92. Inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.89 to 0.93. Of the methods utilized, active IR of a single leg was the most responsive technique with a minimal detectable change value of 5.4°.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical assessment of hip IR range of motion can be performed efficiently and reliably with a digital inclinometer along with visual monitoring of the pelvis for unwanted motion. Findings from this study support unilateral active hip IR in a seated position as a reliable and responsive technique for obtaining hip IR measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Program in Physical Therapy, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1st Avenue SW, Rochester, MN, 550905, USA, Krause.david@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hollman
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Krych
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kalisvaart
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results