Reliability of digital compass goniometer in knee joint range of motion measurement.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the reliability of range of motion measurement in the knee joint using a digital compass goniometer combined with inclinometer with standard range of motion measurement from roentgenographic picture. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Range of flexion and extension of the knee joint in volunteer participants was measured by the newly developed digital compass goniometer combined with inclinometer (DCG). The results were compared with range of knee joint motion obtained from standard roentgenographic picture by intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Range of motion of knee joint measured by DCG correlated very well with the data obtained from standard knee roentgenographic picture. The intraclass correlation coefficient equals 0.973. CONCLUSION: The digital compass goniometer was a reliable tool to measure knee joint range of motion in flexion and extension plane.