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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Concurrent Validity of Equine Joint Range of Motion Measurem...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(12); 2436; doi: 10.3390/ani10122436

Concurrent Validity of Equine Joint Range of Motion Measurement: A Novel Digital Goniometer versus Universal Goniometer.

Abstract: Goniometry is the measurement of joint angles with a conventional universal goniometer (UG) or a digital goniometer (DG). The UG is validated for use in dogs and cats. However, it demands both of the user's hands when measuring. To avoid this, a novel type of DG has been developed, simplifying measurement by offering single-hand usage. The objective of this study is to examine the concurrent validity of the DG. The study consists of measurement with the DG and UG for flexion of the carpus and fetlock on ten horses, and with the DG in flexion and neutral positioning of the fetlock on a sedated horse and corresponding radiographs, intra- and inter-tester reliability and a survey on user-friendliness. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with a significance of < 0.05. The study showed significant differences in range of motion for the carpus and fetlock joint, a 2-3° difference comparing measurements on a sedated horse with corresponding radiographs, a "fair" to "excellent" inter-tester reliability and a "fair" to "almost perfect" intra-tester reliability, and the DG was easier to use than the UG. In conclusion, the novel DG may serve as a simple tool for measuring joint motion in equine rehabilitation patients.
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Publication Date: 2020-12-19 PubMed ID: 33352686PubMed Central: PMC7767303DOI: 10.3390/ani10122436Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research is about testing a novel digital goniometer’s accuracy and reliability for measuring equine (horse) joint angles compared to the more traditional universal goniometer.

Objective and Methods of the Research

  • The objective of this study was to evaluate the validity of the digital goniometer (DG), a device for measuring joint angles that was specially designed for one-handed usage.
  • The researchers compared the DG’s measurements with those taken by the traditional universal goniometer (UG) for flexion of the carpus (wrist) and fetlock (ankle) joints on ten horses.
  • In addition, measurements were taken on a sedated horse, both in a resting and flexed state of the fetlock joint, with the corresponding radiographs serving as a comparison for both positions.
  • The researchers also conducted a reliability test, both among different testers and with the same tester at different times, using the Intra-Class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) as a measure of reliability.
  • This study also included a survey to compare how user-friendly the DG is compared to the UG.
  • All this data was analyzed using ANOVA statistical analysis, with a significance level of less than 0.05.

Results of the Research

  • Significant differences were seen between the UG and DG measurements for the carpus and fetlock joints. The DG’s measurements were within 2-3 degrees of the radiographic measurements made on the sedated horse.
  • Reliability evaluations found inter-tester reliability to be ‘fair’ to ‘excellent’, while intra-tester reliability was between ‘fair’ and ‘almost perfect’.
  • In terms of user-friendliness, the DG was found to be easier to use than the traditional UG.

Conclusion

  • The DG’s comparable accuracy to traditional UG measurements, its good levels of reliability, and its increased user-friendliness make it a potential tool for assessing joint motion in horses undergoing rehabilitation therapy.

Cite This Article

APA
Bergh A, Lauridsen NG, Hesbach AL. (2020). Concurrent Validity of Equine Joint Range of Motion Measurement: A Novel Digital Goniometer versus Universal Goniometer. Animals (Basel), 10(12), 2436. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122436

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 12
PII: 2436

Researcher Affiliations

Bergh, Anna
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Lauridsen, Nicole Gandre
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Hesbach, Amie Lamoreaux
  • EmpowerPhysio, 2585CW The Hague, The Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
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