Intra-observer and inter-observer reliability of leg circumference measurement among six observers: a single blinded randomized trial • JML Journal of Medicine and Life

2017, Volume 10, Issue 3, pp 176 – 181

Intra-observer and inter-observer reliability of leg circumference measurement among six observers: a single blinded randomized trial

Issues

Special Issues

Authors and Affiliations

Bakar Y ^*

Özdemir ÖC ^*

Sevim S ^*

Duygu E ^*

Tuğral A ^*

Sürmeli M ^*

* *School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey

Correspondence to: Alper Tuğral, Abant Izzet Baysal University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, 14030 Bolu, Turkey, Phone: +90 507 442 14 20, Fax: +90 374 253 4663, E-mail: tugral.alper@gmail.com

Abstract

Hypothesis: Circumference measurement of extremities that was reported to be a reliable method as long as being standardized is commonly used both in clinical and home settings by clinicians or caregivers due to its cheapness and easy use.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of manual circumference measurement among different observers and various measurement points.

Methods and Results: A total of 58 lower limbs were included in the study. Both lower limbs of each subject were assessed by 6 observers randomly using circumference measurement method from 9 reference points specified with a Leg-O-Meter. All observers performed the measurements and they were blind to each other’s measurements.

Results: Measurement results from reference points were statistically significant between good to perfect (ICC 0.65-0.99, p<0.001). Interrater reliability of all observers’ first and second measurements showed perfect reliability for both measurements (ICC: 0.92-0.99, p<0.001).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the lower extremity manual circumference measurement is a reliable method for clinical practice.

Abbreviations: BMI = Body Mass Index, ICC = Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, Metatarsal heads (cA), Ankle-heel (cY), Ankle (cB), Distal beginning point of gastrocnemius (cB1), The widest point for gastrocnemius (cC), Head of fibula (cD), Midline of knee (cE), Midline of thigh (cF), Groin level (cG)

Keywords

lower extremitycircumference measurementinter-observer reliabilityintra-observer reliabilityreproducibility of results

Preview

JMedLife-10-176

Download PDF

About this article

PMC ID: 5652265
PubMed ID: 29075347
DOI:

Article Publishing Date (print): Jul-Sep 2017
Available Online:

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.