VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF ON-SCREEN APPLICATION-BASED PROTRACTOR IN ASSESSMENT OF HIP JOINT IN TELEHEALTH MEDIUM

Abstract

Introduction: The Google Chrome extension Protractor (GCE-P) by Ben Burlingham is a small software application where it can be used in a telerehabilitation setting by physical therapists and clinicians to measure active range of motion (AROM). This study is directed to determine the concurrent validity, intra- and interrater reliability of the GCE-P as compared to the universal goniometer (UG), in measuring the hip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) in a seated position. Methods: This study is a descriptive validation study with crossover design of 54 recruited healthy participants. The hip AROM IR & ER were first measured with a UG to set a standard, and then was digitally measured via Google Meet using GCE-P, all were done in 3 trials. The following were used for data analyses: Pearson moment correlation coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient and Blant-Altman analysis in sitting IR and ER, with alpha set at 0.05. Results: The GCE-P had a high agreement with the UG, with values of concurrent validity in hip IR (r=0.92) and ER (r=0.88). With a minimal mean difference of (3.44o) in hip IR and (0.30o) in hip ER, using Blant-Altman analysis. The GCE-P also had good intra-rater reliability, measured via intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with values for hip IR of (ICC=0.92, 95%CI=0.87-0.95), and for hip ER of (ICC=0.94, 95%CI=0.90-0.96). Interrater reliability was also shown to be excellent with values of ICC=0.91 (95%CI=0.84-0.94) in hip IR, and ICC=0.88 (95%CI=0.81-0.93) in hip ER. Discussion: The Google Chrome extension Protractor is accurate and reliable for measuring hip joint AROM in IR & ER. This is valid to be used in a telerehabilitation setting during consultations, and initial evaluations within the context of quarantine protocols.