Reliability of measuring joint ranges for adults with complex postures
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Inter- and Intra-rater reliability of measuring lower limb joint range limitation using the neutral-0 method of notation for adults with complex postural presentations arising from neurological impairment
IRAS ID
127471
Contact name
Kathryn Parker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
People with congenital or acquired disability are surviving major neurological damage and living long lives with very complex impairments. Specific quantitative data must necessarily be gathered to inform clinical decisions in respect of the prescription of a ‘customised’ physical management regime, including the prescription of equipment. To this end, an assessment form has been specifically designed to capture the information required, the Management of Posture and Disability 24/7 (MPD 24/7).
A crucial part of the MPD 24/7 is the section concerned with the estimation and recording of the passive range of movement (ROM) of the joints; the purpose of which is to establish any limitation of the critical ranges, such as hip flexion (how much the hip will bend).
No part of the MPD 24/7 has been scientifically tested. This proposed study is the first stage of several to test the quantitative elements for reliability.
In the MPD 24/7 the recording of passive ROM is based on the Neutral-0 method. To our knowledge, no clinical study has evaluated the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Neutral-0 method as used to record visually estimated joint angles of people with complex neurological impairment.
The primary aim of this study is therefore to test the Neutral-0 method for intra-rater reliability and, because, in the clinic situation the MPD 24/7 will be undertaken by different clinicians at various follow-up intervals, it is also essential to test for inter-rater reliability.
The secondary aim is to compare data collected from clinicians who are very experienced in taking ROM measures (‘experts’) and those who have limited experience (‘novices’). The novice clinicians will have recently completed the course ‘posture management for people with complex disabilities’as taught at the Oxford Centre for Enablement by the expert clinicians.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/0031
Date of REC Opinion
11 Feb 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion