Intra- and Inter-reliability of Cervical Goniometer Used to Measure Cervical Range of Motion in Young Adults

Abstract

Objective: To determine the intra- and inter-reliability and validity of indigenously designed cervical goniometer in comparison with CROM instrument in young adults. Methodology: 198 subjects participated in this study. All the subjects were then interviewed through a questionnaire and needful assessment was done using cervical goniometer and CROM instrument. All the measurements were made thrice using both the instruments by both the investigators. Results: The interclass and intraclass reliability of cervical goniometer designed indigenously in the School of Physiotherapy is excellent as shown by the ICC and Cronbach’s values. Reliability score of cervical goniometer ranged from 0.999 to 0.931 for all cervical movements in comparison with CROM instrument which suggests a greater consistency in measurements and tool can be considered reliable for the measurements. Difference of average of all the cervical range of motions are insignificant as the values of one-way analysis of variance, p value is >0.05—both the equipments were compared using Pearson’s correlation test with coefficient values ranging from, p = 0.125 to shows difference between two measurements is insignificant (since P > 0.05). Correlation between the values obtained using indigenously designed cervical goniometer and CROM instrument for all movements was considered excellent at p < 0.05. One sample T test was done to measure the validity for the two techniques and Bland Altman graph to check the pattern of scatteredness. Regression analysis was done to find out the bias in the measurements. Values of regression, F = 2.368 and p > 0.05, show that the measures are neither underestimated nor overestimated. Conclusion: Good correlation between neck ROM measurements obtained from cervical goniometer and CROM instrument ascertains that the technique and the assessment equipment designed indigenously is valid and reliable.