Validation of Phone Applications on Measuring Passive and Functional Range of Motion

Abstract

The study’s purpose is to assess lower extremity (LE) measurements among three different devices. A universal goniometer, Hudlphone application and iPhone 5C Default compass phone application were used. College age subjects of good health volunteered however, subjects with a significant LE injury within the past 2 years or who cannot hold a squat position for all measurements to be taken are rejected from the study. Subjects’ bony landmarks are indicated with stickers, to ensure consistency. Passive range of motion (ROM) assessments are taken at the hip, knee and ankle of the right LE. Subjects then perform a squat, reaching near parallel with the ground where ROM measurements are taken at the 3 joints. Measurements are taken with the universal goniometer, Hudland Default compass phone applications. To find statistical significance, the paired-sample T-test as well as One-way ANOVA are used in the analysis of our data collected. A relationship was noted between the accuracy of the three methods of ROM assessments. Conclusion: Our findings suggest Hudland Default compass phone applications are as accurate as the universal goniometer. These results are dependent on the size of the angle observed at each particular joint.