De Vet HC, Terwee CB, Knol DL, Bouter LM: When to use agreement versus reliability measures. J Clin Epidemiol. 2006, 59: 1033-1039. 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2005.10.015. The EZ Read Jamar Goniometer is a manual medical goniometer designed to measure range of motion and dexterity in small joints. The simple design enables easy patient measurements. Use to measure range of motion, movement improvements, and dysfunction in patients. The EZ Read Jamar Goniometer is excellent for patients that have difficulties bending and flexing joints and are participating in a rehab and recovery program. Varying Size Options Bruton A, Ellis B, Goddard J: Comparison of visual estimation and goniometry for assessment of metacarpophalangeal joint angle. Physiotherapy. 1999, 85: 2011-2018. Record measurements correctly (both active and passive range of motion should be measured and recorded respectively). [1] The results of all the analytical approaches support the suggestion that both goniometers can be used interchangeably. Significance of goniometer effect apparent from some of the 2x10 ANOVAs should be interpreted in conjunction with significant goniometer by rater interaction, indicating that the performance of the instrument tended to be depended on which the rater was using it. The small magnitudes of the differences between the reliability estimates of the techniques were not convincing enough to state disparity of the methods. In the three cases of failure to reject the null hypothesis for paper goniometer alone, the LLs of 95% one-sided L-L CIs levels above 0.7 can still be considered as an acceptable level of reliability for non-professional novice raters. Interchangeability of goniometers was also demonstrated by the binomial tests, which involved assessment of the inter-goniometer ≤ 5-degree agreement. It is notable, that the results of the proportion analysis echo the outcomes of parametric assessments indicating that the measurement consistency was rater and joint dependent. Parity of the goniometers was further shown by the results of the study parts B, indicating that data collected with both instruments can be similarly interpreted in an exploration of simulated change in joint range of motion over time. Decrease in the reliability estimates in the second stage of the study part A may be due to the weariness of the participants.

Hamilton GF, Lachenbruch PA: Reliability of goniometers in assessing finger joint angle. Phys Ther. 1969, 49: 465-469. Eliasziw M, Young SL, Woodbury MG, Fryday-Field K: Statistical methodology for the concurrent assessment of interrater and intrarater reliability: using goniometric measurements as an example. Phys Ther. 1994, 74: 777-788. Wireless Twin-Axis Electronic Goniometers provide the freedom of unrestricted movement, a key feature when studying natural, dynamic joint movements in real-world environments. Our wireless DataLITE technology eliminates the need for cumbersome cables, providing a hassle-free, unobtrusive experience for the user. The wireless transmission is robust and can transmit data up to a range of 30 meters, ensuring you have the flexibility and freedom to move without the concern of data loss. Kato M, Echigo A, Ohta H, Ishiai S, Aoki M, Tsubota S, Uchiyama E: The accuracy of goniometric measurements of proximal interphalangeal joints in fresh cadavers: comparison between methods of measurement, types of goniometers, and fingers. J Hand Ther. 2007, 20: 12-18. 10.1197/j.jht.2006.11.015.The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the electrogoniometer is higher than the universal goniometer but challenging to apply in patients' clinical evaluation, hence used more often for research purposes [1] Walter SD, Eliasziw M, Donner A: Sample size and optimal designs for reliability studies. Stat Med. 1998, 17: 101-110. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0258(19980115)17:1<101::AID-SIM727>3.0.CO;2-E. Macionis V: A technique for graphical recording of range of motion using an improvised paper goniometer. J Hand Ther. 2011, 24: 374-377. 10.1016/j.jht.2011.05.003. The subjects’ task in all study parts was to stabilize their left ring finger joints in postures set up by grasping a funnel or a triangle ruler and by applying appropriate try-angles over the dorsal aspect of the joint (Figure 2a).

The finding of this study that the measurements of the distal interphalangeal joint are relatively less consistent corresponds to the results of the earlier research [ 2, 26, 33, 37]. This phenomenon may be associated with the stabilization difficulty of the less powered interphalangeal joints and limited phalangeal length available for the alignment of the arms of goniometers. The results of the current study also corroborate the observations of the other researchers that intra-rater reliability is better than inter-rater reliability [ 2, 6, 7, 23, 25, 26, 28, 33]. The long arm goniometers are more accurate for joints with long levers like the knee and hip joints.

Groth GN, VanDeven KM, Phillips EC, Ehretsman RL: Goniometry of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints, Part II: placement preferences, interrater reliability, and concurrent validity. J Hand Ther. 2001, 14: 23-29. 10.1016/S0894-1130(01)80021-1. Glasgow C, James M, O‘Sullivan J, Tooth LR: Measurement of joint stiffness in the hand: a preliminary investigation of the reliability and validity of torque angle curves. Br J Hand Ther. 2004, 9: 11-12. Weir JP: Quantifying test-retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient and the SEM. J Strength Cond Res. 2005, 19: 231-240. Macdermid JC, Fox E, Richards RS, Roth JH: Validity of pulp-to-palm distance as a measure of finger flexion. J Hand Surg Br. 2001, 26: 432-435. 10.1054/jhsb.2001.0612. Chiu HY: A method of two-dimensional measurement for evaluating finger motion impairment. A description of the method and comparison with angular measurement. J Hand Surg Br. 1995, 20: 691-695. 10.1016/S0266-7681(05)80138-X.

Each of the replicate study stages was analyzed separately. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Exploratory data analysis Lefevre-Colau MM, Poiraudeau S, Fermanian J, Mayoux-Benhamou MA, Bargy F, Revel M: Reliability of two goniometers in assessing rheumatoid finger mobility: Relationship between mobility and disability. Eura Medicophys. 2001, 37: 3-10.Kottner J, Audigé L, Brorson S, Donner A, Gajewski BJ, Hróbjartsson A, Roberts C, Shoukri M, Streiner DL: Guidelines for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies (GRRAS) were proposed. J Clin Epidemiol. 2011, 64: 96-106. 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.03.002.