Journal article
Reliability and validity of clinically accessible smartphone applications to measure joint range of motion: A systematic review
PLoS One, Vol.14(5), e0215806
2019
Abstract
Measuring joint range of motion is an important skill for many allied health professionals. While the Universal Goniometer is the most commonly utilised clinical tool for measuring joint range of motion, the evolution of smartphone technology and applications (apps) provides the clinician with more measurement options. However, the reliability and validity of these smartphones and apps is still somewhat uncertain. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding the intra- and inter-rater reliability and validity of smartphones and apps to measure joint range of motion. Eligible studies were published in English peer-reviewed journals with full text available, involving the assessment of reliability and/or validity of a non-videographic smartphone app to measure joint range of motion in participants >18 years old. An electronic search using PubMed, Medline via Ovid, EMBASE, CINAHL, and SPORTSDiscus was performed. The risk of bias was assessed using a standardised appraisal tool. Twenty-three of the eligible 25 studies exceeded the minimum 60% score to be classified as a low risk of bias, although 3 of the 13 criteria were not achieved in >50% of the studies. Most of the studies demonstrated adequate intra-rater or inter-rater reliability and/or validity for >50% of the range of motion tests across all joints assessed. However, this level of evidence appeared weaker for absolute (e.g. mean difference±limit of agreement, minimal detectable change) than relative (e.g. intraclass correlation, correlation) measures; and for spinal rotation than spinal extension, flexion and lateral flexion. Our results provide clinicians with sufficient evidence to support the use of smartphones and apps in place of goniometers to measure joint motion. Future research should address some methodological limitations of the literature, especially including the inclusion of absolute and not just relative reliability and validity statistics
Details
- Title
- Reliability and validity of clinically accessible smartphone applications to measure joint range of motion: A systematic review
- Authors
- Justin W L Keogh (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastAlistair Cox (Author) - Bond UniversitySarah Anderson (Author) - Bond UniversityBernard Liew (Author) - University of Birmingham, United KingdomAlicia Olsen (Author) - Bond UniversityBen Schram (Author) - Bond UniversityJames Furness (Author) - Bond University
- Publication details
- PLoS One, Vol.14(5), e0215806; 24
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0215806
- ISSN
- 1932-6203; 1932-6203
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2019 Keogh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450988902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
- Research Statement
- false
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Rehabilitation