Concurrent validity and interrater reliability of a new smartphone application to assess 3D active cervical range of motion in patients with neck pain

Martijn S Stenneberg; Harm Busstra; Michel Eskes; Emiel van Trijffel; Erik Cattrysse; Gwendolijne G M Scholten-Peeters; Rob A de Bie

doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2017.12.006

Concurrent validity and interrater reliability of a new smartphone application to assess 3D active cervical range of motion in patients with neck pain

Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018 Apr:34:59-65. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.12.006. Epub 2017 Dec 16.

Authors

Martijn S Stenneberg¹, Harm Busstra², Michel Eskes³, Emiel van Trijffel², Erik Cattrysse⁴, Gwendolijne G M Scholten-Peeters⁵, Rob A de Bie⁶

Affiliations

¹ SOMT University of Physiotherapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands; CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.stenneberg@somtuniversity.nl.
² SOMT University of Physiotherapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands; Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Experimental Anatomy, Brussels, Belgium.
³ SOMT University of Physiotherapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
⁴ Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Experimental Anatomy, Brussels, Belgium.
⁵ SOMT University of Physiotherapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands; Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, The Netherlands.
⁶ SOMT University of Physiotherapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands; CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; Maastricht University, Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

PMID: 29328979
DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.12.006

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of valid, reliable, and feasible instruments for measuring planar active cervical range of motion (aCROM) and associated 3D coupling motions in patients with neck pain. Smartphones have advanced sensors and appear to be suitable for these measurements.

Objectives: To estimate the concurrent validity and interrater reliability of a new iPhone application for assessing planar aCROM and associated 3D coupling motions in patients with neck pain, using an electromagnetic tracking device as a reference test.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Two samples of neck pain patients were recruited; 30 patients for the validity study and 26 patients for the reliability study. Validity was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and by calculating 95% limits of agreement (LoA). To estimate interrater reliability, ICCs were calculated. Cervical 3D coupling motions were analyzed by calculating the cross-correlation coefficients and ratio between the main motions and coupled motions for both instruments.

Results: ICCs for concurrent validity and interrater reliability ranged from 0.90 to 0.99. The width of the 95% LoA ranged from about 5° for right lateral bending to 11° for total rotation. No significant differences were found between both devices for associated coupling motion analysis.

Conclusions: The iPhone application appears to be a useful discriminative tool for the measurement of planar aCROM and associated coupling motions in patients with neck pain. It fulfills the need for a valid, reliable, and feasible instrument in clinical practice and research. Therapists and researchers should consider measurement error when interpreting scores.

Keywords: Active range of motion; Assessment; Nonspecific neck pain; Reliability and validity; Smartphone.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging*
Cervical Vertebrae / physiopathology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Middle Aged
Mobile Applications / standards*
Neck Pain / diagnosis*
Neck Pain / physiopathology*
Range of Motion, Articular / physiology*
Reproducibility of Results
Smartphone / statistics & numerical data*