Comparison of Visual Estimation and Goniometry in Determination of a Shoulder Joint Angle
1990; Elsevier BV; Volume: 76; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0031-9406(10)63103-3
ISSN1873-1465
AutoresJohn G Williams, Michael J. Callaghan,
Tópico(s)Shoulder and Clavicle Injuries
ResumoThis study compared the performance of two groups of physiotherapists (practised and non-practised) who used visual estimation and three types of standard goniometer to measure the angle of a shoulder joint of a model whose right arm was fully extended and elevated in flexion to a fixed neutral position (taken to be 100°). Analysis of variance showed that there were no differences in performance either between the criterion groups or among the four measurement methods. There were no significant interactions. The grand mean value recorded was 103.60° (range 101.60° to 105.00°). It was concluded that physiotherapy training in goniometry, which includes the use of both a measuring tool and standard reference system for the human body, provides an organising schema for visual estimation. Coupled with experience and practice, this permits therapists to obtain joint measurements of the shoulder that can be as accurate as those obtained with a mechanical goniometer. The suggestion is advanced that, for highly skilled therapists, visual estimation is the more valid technique and the goniometer may be redundant.
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