Table 1.
Overview of validity and inter-rater reliability for knee goniometry
| Study | Validity | Inter-rater | Goniometric tool and test position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavernia et al [23] | Mean difference between radiologic and goniometric measurement up to 13 degrees with wide (up to 20 degrees) 95% limits of agreement | 1-way ANOVA method determined a significant difference between raters for visual and measured range of motion | Standard goniometer; supine. |
| Lenssen et al [24] | Mean difference (95% limits of agreement) between raters differed by position tested and angle: 1.4 degrees (-16.2 to 19 degrees) (flexion/supine); 2.7 (-6.7 to 12.1) (flexion, sitting); 2.2 (-6.2 to 10.6) (extension, sitting) |
Long-arm goniometer; sitting and supine. | |
| Edwards et al [16] | 22% of the goniometric measurements were different by 5 degrees or more | Correlation coefficient, 0.91 (type not specified). | Standard goniometer; supine. |
| Brosseau et al [14] | r = 0.975-0.987 (flexion), r = 0.390-0.514 (extension). |
ICC, 0.959-0.982 (flexion); ICC 0.856-0.926 (extension). Both devices performed similarly. |
Parallelogram and Universal goniometer; supine. |
| Brosseau et al [15] | r = 0.73-0.78 (flexion), r = 0.33-0.48 (extension). |
ICC, 0.82-0.88 (flexion); ICC 0.43-0.52 (extension). Both devices performed similarly, but the parallelogram provided more advantages to the clinician. | Parallelogram and Universal goniometer; supine. |
| Watkins et al [19] | ICC 0.90 (flexion); ICC, 0.86 (extension) | Standard goniometer; positioned varied. | |
| Gogia et al [22] | ICC 0.98-0.99. | ICC 0.99 | Standard goniometry; side-lying. |
| Rothstein et al [18] | ICC 0.84-0.93 (flexion); ICC 0.59-0.80 (extension). All devices performed similarly. | 3 different standard goniometers; position not specified. | |
| Lawrence, cited by Johnson [17] | r = 0.94 (extension and flexion angles combined). | Intra-observer error +/- 2.3 degrees for end flexion (aggregate standard deviation). Inter-observer error +/- 2.6 degrees end extension and +/-4.2 degrees end flexion |
Extended goniometer; supine position. |
| Cleffken et al [20] | Passive end of range flexion - Smallest detectable difference 0 ± 6.4 degrees | Electronic digital inclinometer; supine |
Pearson product moment correlation (r), intra-class correlation (ICC).